Modulators of LXR

ABSTRACT

Compounds of the invention, such as compounds of formula (I): 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
         
         
           
             where n, m, A, B, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4  and R 5  are defined herein, are useful as modulators of the activity of liver X receptors. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds and methods of using the compounds are also disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/327,813, filed Dec. 20, 2002, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/342,707, filed Dec. 21, 2001, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Compounds, compositions and methods for modulating the activity of liver X receptors (LXRs) are provided. In particular, pyridone derivatives are provided for modulating the activity of LXRs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Nuclear Receptors

Nuclear receptors are a superfamily of regulatory proteins that are structurally and functionally related and are receptors for, e.g., steroids, retinoids, vitamin D and thyroid hormones (see, e.g., Evans (1988) Science 240:889-895). These proteins bind to cis-acting elements in the promoters of their target genes and modulate gene expression in response to ligands for the receptors.

Nuclear receptors can be classified based on their DNA binding properties (see, e.g., Evans, supra and Glass (1994) Endocr. Rev. 15:391-407). For example, one class of nuclear receptors includes the glucocorticoid, estrogen, androgen, progestin and mineralocorticoid receptors which bind as homodimers to hormone response elements (HREs) organized as inverted repeats (see, e.g., Glass, supra). A second class of receptors, including those activated by retinoic acid, thyroid hormone, vitamin D₃, fatty acids/peroxisome proliferators (i.e., peroxisome proliferator activated receptors or PPARs) and ecdysone, bind to HREs as heterodimers with a common partner, the retinoid X receptors (i.e., RXRs, also known as the 9-cis retinoic acid receptors; see, e.g., Levin et al. (1992) Nature 355:359-361 and Heyman et al. (1992) Cell 68:397-406).

RXRs are unique among the nuclear receptors in that they bind DNA as a homodimer and are required as a heterodimeric partner for a number of additional nuclear receptors to bind DNA (see, e.g., Mangelsdorf et al. (1995) Cell 83:841-850). The latter receptors, termed the class II nuclear receptor subfamily, include many which are established or implicated as important regulators of gene expression. There are three RXR genes (see, e.g., Mangelsdorf et al. (1992) Genes Dev. 6:329-344), coding for RXRα, −β, and −γ, all of which are able to heterodimerize with any of the class II receptors, although there appear to be preferences for distinct RXR subtypes by partner receptors in vivo (see, e.g., Chiba et al. (1997) Mol. Cell. Biol. 17:3013-3020). In the adult liver, RXRα is the most abundant of the three RXRs (see, e.g., Mangelsdorf et al. (1992) Genes Dev. 6:329-344), suggesting that it might have a prominent role in hepatic functions that involve regulation by class II nuclear receptors. See also, Wan et al. (2000) Mol. Cell. Biol. 20:4436-4444.

Orphan Nuclear Receptors

Included in the nuclear receptor superfamily of regulatory proteins are nuclear receptors for whom the ligand is known and those which lack known ligands. Nuclear receptors falling in the latter category are referred to as orphan nuclear receptors. The search for activators for orphan receptors has led to the discovery of previously unknown signaling pathways (see, e.g., Levin et al., (1992), supra and Heyman et al., (1992), supra). For example, it has been reported that bile acids, which are involved in physiological processes such as cholesterol catabolism, are ligands for farnesoid X receptor (FXR).

Since it is known that products of intermediary metabolism act as transcriptional regulators in bacteria and yeast, such molecules may serve similar functions in higher organisms (see, e.g., Tomkins (1975) Science 189:760-763 and O'Malley (1989) Endocrinology 125:1119-1120). For example, one biosynthetic pathway in higher eukaryotes is the mevalonate pathway, which leads to the synthesis of cholesterol, bile acids, porphyrin, dolichol, ubiquinone, carotenoids, retinoids, vitamin D, steroid hormones and farnesylated proteins.

LXRα and LXRβ

LXRα is found predominantly in the liver, with lower levels found in kidney, intestine, spleen and adrenal tissue (see, e.g., Willy, et al. (1995) Gene Dev. 9(9):1033-1045). LXRβ is ubiquitous in mammals and was found in nearly all tissues examined. LXRs are activated by certain naturally occurring, oxidized derivatives of cholesterol (see, e.g., Lehmann, et al. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272(6):3137-3140). LXRα is activated by oxycholesterol and promotes cholesterol metabolism (Peet et al. (1998) Cell 93:693-704). Thus, LXRs appear to play a role in, e.g., cholesterol metabolism (see, e.g., Janowski, et al. (1996) Nature 383:728-731).

Nuclear Receptors and Disease

Nuclear receptor activity has been implicated in a variety of diseases and disorders, including, but not limited to, hypercholesterolemia (see, e.g., International Patent Application Publication No. WO 00/57915), osteoporosis and vitamin deficiency (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,316,5103), hyperlipoproteinemia (see, e.g., International Patent Application Publication No. WO 01/60818), hypertriglyceridemia, lipodystrophy, hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus (see, e.g., International Patent Application Publication No. WO 01/82917), atherosclerosis and gallstones (see, e.g., International Patent Application Publication No. WO 00/37077), disorders of the skin and mucous membranes (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,184,215 and 6,187,814, and International Patent Application Publication No. WO 98/32444), acne (see, e.g., International Patent Application Publication No. WO 00/49992), and cancer, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease (see, e.g., International Patent Application Publication No. WO 00/17334). Activity of nuclear receptors, including LXRs, FXR and PPAR, and orphan nuclear receptors, has been implicated in physiological processes including, but not limited to, bile acid biosynthesis, cholesterol metabolism or catabolism, and modulation of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase gene (CYP7A1) transcription (see, e.g., Chiang et al. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275:10918-10924), HDL metabolism (see, e.g., Urizar et al. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275:39313-39317 and International Patent Application Publication No. WO 01/03705), and increased cholesterol efflux and increased expression of ATP binding cassette transporter protein (ABC1) (see, e.g., International Patent Application Publication No. WO 00/78972).

Thus, there is a need for compounds, compositions and methods of modulating the activity of nuclear receptors, including LXRs, FXR, PPAR and orphan nuclear receptors. Such compounds are useful in the treatment, prevention, or amelioration of one or more symptoms of diseases or disorders in which nuclear receptor activity is implicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Compounds for use in compositions and methods for modulating the activity of nuclear receptors are provided. In particular, compounds for use in compositions and methods for modulating liver X receptors (LXRα and LXRβ), FXR, PPAR and/or orphan nuclear receptors are provided. In certain embodiments, the compounds are N-substituted pyridone compounds. In one embodiment, the compounds provided herein are agonists of LXR. In another embodiment, the compounds provided herein are antagonists of LXR. Agonists that exhibit low efficacy are, in certain embodiments, antagonists.

Accordingly, one aspect of this invention is directed to compounds of formula (I):

wherein:

n is 1 to 4;

m is 1 to 4;

is aryl or heteroaryl;

is aryl, heterocyclyl or heteroaryl;

R¹ is hydrogen, aralkyl or heteroarylalkyl;

R² is hydrogen, cyano, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—N(R⁸)S(O)₂R¹⁰ or —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(NR⁸)N(R⁸)₂;

R³ is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl;

each R⁴ is independently hydrogen, halo, alkyl or haloalkyl;

each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—O—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)R¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(S)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)R⁸, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰, —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2) and —R⁷—S(O)₂N(R⁸)₂;

R⁶ is —OR⁷—, —N(R⁸)—, a direct bond, a straight or branched alkylene chain, a straight or branched alkenylene chain or a straight or branched alkynylene chain;

each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond, a straight or branched alkylene chain or a straight or branched alkenylene chain;

each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl;

each R⁹ is independently selected from a straight or branched alkylene chain or a straight or branched alkenylene chain;

each R¹⁰ is independently selected from alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; and

R¹¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heterarylalkyl;

as an isomer, a mixture of stereoisomers, a racemic mixture thereof of stereoisomers, or as a tautomer;

or as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, solvate or polymorph thereof.

Another aspect of this invention is directed to methods of treating, preventing, or ameliorating the symptoms of a disease or disorder that is modulated or otherwise affected by nuclear receptor activity or in which nuclear receptor activity is implicated, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of formula (I) as set forth above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Another aspect of this invention is directed to methods of reducing cholesterol levels in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of formula (I) as set forth above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Another aspect of this invention is directed to methods of treating, preventing, or ameliorating one or more symptoms of a disease or disorder which is affected by cholesterol, triglyceride, or bile acid levels, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of formula (I) as set forth above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Another aspect of this invention is directed to methods of modulating nuclear receptor activity, comprising contacting the nuclear receptor with a compound of formula (I) as set forth above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Another aspect of this invention is directed to methods of modulating cholesterol metabolism, comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of formula (I) as set forth above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Another aspect of this invention is directed to methods of treating, preventing or ameliorating one or more symptoms of hypocholesterolemia in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of formula (I) as set forth above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Another aspect of this invention is directed to methods of increasing cholesterol efflux from cells of a subject, comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of formula (I) as set forth above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Another aspect of this invention is directed to methods of increasing the expression of ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC1) in the cells of a subject, comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of formula (I) as set forth above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Another aspect of this invention is directed to in vitro methods for altering nuclear receptor activity, comprising contacting the nuclear receptor with a compound of formula (I) as set forth above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Another aspect of this invention is directed to methods of reducing cholesterol levels in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of formula (I) as set forth above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Another aspect of this invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and a compound of formula (I) as set forth above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

As used herein the singular forms “a”, “and”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, “a compound” refers to one or more of such compounds, while “the enzyme” includes a particular enzyme as well as other family members and equivalents thereof as known to those skilled in the art.

As used in the specification and appended claims, unless specified to the contrary, the following terms have the meaning indicated.

“Alkyl” refers to a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain radical consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms, containing no unsaturation, having from one to twelve carbon atoms, preferably one to eight, and which is attached to the rest of the molecule by a single bond, e.g., methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, 1-methylethyl (iso-propyl), n-butyl, n-pentyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl (t-butyl), and the like. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, the alkyl radical may be optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, cyano, nitro, —OR⁸, —N(R⁸)₂, —C(O)R⁸, —C(O)OR⁸, —C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰, —N(R⁸)C(O)R⁸, —N[S(O)_(t)R⁸]₂ (where t is 0 to 2), —N(R⁸)S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2), —S(O)_(p)OR⁸ (where p is 1 to 2), —S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2), and —S(O)_(p)N(R⁸)₂ (where p is 1 to 2) where each R⁸ and R¹⁰ is as defined above in the Summary of the Invention. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, it is understood that for radicals, as defined below, that contain a substituted alkyl group that the substitution can occur on any carbon of the alkyl group.

“Alkenyl” refers to a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain radical consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms, containing at least one double bond, having from two to eight carbon atoms, and which is attached to the rest of the molecule by a single bond or a double bond, e.g., ethenyl, prop-1-enyl, but-1-enyl, pent-1-enyl, penta-1,4-dienyl, and the like. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, the alkenyl radical may be optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, cyano, nitro, —OR⁸, —N(R⁸)₂, —C(O)R⁸, —C(O)OR⁸, —C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰, —N(R⁸)C(O)R⁸, —N[S(O)_(t)R⁸]₂ (where t is 0 to 2), —N(R⁸)S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2), —S(O)_(p)OR⁸ (where p is 1 to 2), —S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2), and —S(O)_(p)N(R⁸)₂ (where p is 1 to 2) where each R⁸ and R¹⁰ is as defined above in the Summary of the Invention. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, it is understood that for radicals, as defined below, that contain a substituted alkenyl group that the substitution can occur on any carbon of the alkenyl group.

“Aryl” refers to refers to aromatic monocyclic or multicyclic ring system containing from 6 to 19 carbon atoms, where the ring system may be partially or fully saturated. Aryl groups include, but are not limited to groups such as fluorenyl, phenyl and naphthyl. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, the term “aryl” or the prefix “ar-” (such as in “aralkyl”) is meant to include aryl radicals optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, halo, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, cyano, nitro, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂—R⁷—C(O)R⁸—R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)R⁸, —R⁷—N[S(O)_(t)R⁸]₂ (where t is 0 to 2), —R⁷—N(R⁸)S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2), —R⁷—S(O)_(p)OR⁸ (where p is 1 to 2), —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2), and —R⁷—S(O)_(p)N(R⁸)₂ (where p is 1 to 2) where each R⁸, R⁷ and R¹⁰ is as defined above in the Summary of the Invention.

“Aralkyl” refers to a radical of the formula —R_(a)R_(b) where R_(a) is an alkyl radical as defined above and R_(b) is one or more aryl radicals as defined above, e.g., benzyl, diphenylmethyl and the like. The aryl radical(s) and the alkyl radical may be optionally substituted as described above.

“Alkylene” and “alkylene chain” refer to a straight or branched divalent hydrocarbon chain, linking the rest of the molecule to a radical group, consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen, containing no unsaturation and having from one to twelve carbon atoms, preferably having from one to eight carbons, e.g., methylene, ethylene, propylene, n-butylene, and the like. The alkylene chain may be attached to the rest of the molecule and to the radical group through one carbon within the chain or through any two carbons within the chain. The alkylene chain may be optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, cyano, nitro, aryl, cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, —OR⁸, —N(R⁸)₂, —C(O)R⁸, —C(O)OR⁸, —C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰, —N(R⁸)C(O)R⁸, —N[S(O)_(t)R⁸]₂ (where t is 0 to 2), —N(R⁸)S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2), —S(O)_(p)OR⁸ (where p is 1 to 2), —S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2), and —S(O)_(p)N(R⁸)₂ (where p is 1 to 2) where each R⁸ and R¹⁰ is as defined above in the Summary of the Invention. The alkylene chain may be attached to the rest of the molecule through any two carbons within the chain.

“Alkenylene” and “alkenylene chain” refer to a straight or branched divalent hydrocarbon chain linking the rest of the molecule to a radical group, consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen, containing at least one double bond and having from two to twelve carbon atoms, e.g., ethenylene, propenylene, n-butenylene, and the like. The alkenylene chain is attached to the rest of the molecule through a single bond and to the radical group through a double bond or a single bond. The points of attachment of the alkenylene chain to the rest of the molecule and to the radical group can be through one carbon or any two carbons within the chain. The alkenylene chain may be optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, cyano, nitro, aryl, cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, —OR⁸, —N(R⁸)₂, —C(O)R⁸, —C(O)OR⁸, —C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰, —N(R⁸)C(O)R⁸, —N[S(O)_(t)R⁸]₂ (where t is 0 to 2), —N(R⁸)S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2), —S(O)_(p)OR⁸ (where p is 1 to 2), —S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2), and —S(O)_(p)N(R⁸)₂ (where p is 1 to 2) where each R⁸ and R¹⁰ is as defined above in the Summary of the Invention.

“Alkynylene” and “alkynylene chain” refer to a straight or branched divalent hydrocarbon chain linking the rest of the molecule to a radical group, consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen, containing at least one triple bond and having from two to twelve carbon atoms, e.g., ethynylene, propynylene, n-butenylene, and the like. The alkynylene chain is attached to the rest of the molecule through a single bond and to the radical group through a triple bond or a single bond. The points of attachment of the alkynylene chain to the rest of the molecule and to the radical group can be through one carbon or any two carbons within the chain. The alkynylene chain may be optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, cyano, nitro, aryl, cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, —OR⁸, —N(R⁸)₂, —C(O)R⁸, —C(O)OR⁸, —C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰, —N(R⁸)C(O)R⁸, —N[S(O)_(t)R⁸]₂ (where t is 0 to 2), —N(R⁸)S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2), —S(O)_(p)OR⁸ (where p is 1 to 2), —S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2), and —S(O)_(p)N(R⁸)₂ (where p is 1 to 2) where each R⁸ and R¹⁰ is as defined above in the Summary of the Invention.

“Cycloalkyl” refers to a stable monovalent monocyclic or bicyclic hydrocarbon radical consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms, having from three to ten carbon atoms, and which is saturated and attached to the rest of the molecule by a single bond, e.g., cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, decalinyl and the like. Unless otherwise stated specifically in the specification, the term “cycloalkyl” is meant to include cycloalkyl radicals which are optionally substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, halo, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, cyano, nitro, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—C(O)R⁸, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)R⁸, —R⁷—N[S(O)_(t)R⁸]₂ (where t is 0 to 2), —R⁷—N(R⁸)S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2), —R⁷—S(O)_(p)OR⁸ (where p is 1 to 2), and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2), —R⁷—S(O)_(p)N(R⁸)₂ (where p is 1 to 2) where each R⁸, R⁷ and R¹⁰ is as defined above in the Summary of the Invention.

“Cycloalkylalkyl” refers to a radical of the formula —R_(a)R_(d) where R_(a) is an alkyl radical as defined above and R_(d) is a cycloalkyl radical as defined above. The alkyl radical and the cycloalkyl radical may be optionally substituted as defined above.

“Halo” refers to bromo, chloro, fluoro or iodo.

“Haloalkyl” refers to an alkyl radical, as defined above, that is substituted by one or more halo radicals, as defined above, e.g., trifluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trichloromethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 1-fluoromethyl-2-fluoroethyl, 3-bromo-2-fluoropropyl, 1-bromomethyl-2-bromoethyl, and the like.

“Haloalkenyl” refers to an alkenyl radical, as defined above, that is substituted by one or more halo radicals, as defined above, e.g., 2-bromoethynyl, 3-bromoprop-1-enyl, and the like.

“Heterocyclyl” refers to a stable 3- to 18-membered non-aromatic ring radical which consists of carbon atoms and from one to five heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. For purposes of this invention, the heterocyclyl radical may be a monocyclic, bicyclic, tricyclic or tetracyclic ring system, which may include fused or bridged ring systems; and the nitrogen, carbon or sulfur atoms in the heterocyclyl radical may be optionally oxidized; the nitrogen atom may be optionally quaternized; and the heterocyclyl radical may be partially or fully saturated. Examples of such heterocyclyl radicals include, but are not limited to, dioxolanyl, decahydroisoquinolyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolidinyl, isothiazolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl, morpholinyl, octahydroindolyl, octahydroisoindolyl, 2-oxopiperazinyl, 2-oxopiperidinyl, 2-oxopyrrolidinyl, oxazolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, 4-piperidonyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazolidinyl, thiazolidinyl, tetrahydrofuryl, trithianyl, tetrahydropyranyl, thiomorpholinyl, thiamorpholinyl, 1-oxo-thiomorpholinyl, and 1,1-dioxo-thiomorpholinyl. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, the term “heterocyclyl” is meant to include heterocyclyl radicals as defined above which are optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, halo, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, nitro, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, —R⁷—R⁸, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—C(O)R⁸, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)R⁸, —R⁷—N[S(O)_(t)R⁸]₂ (where t is 0 to 2), —R⁷—N(R⁸)S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2), —R⁷—S(O)_(p)OR⁸ (where p is 1 to 2), —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2), and —R⁷—S(O)_(p)N(R⁸)₂ (where p is 1 to 2) where each R⁸, R⁷ and R¹⁰ is as defined above in the Summary of the Invention. For purposes of this invention, the term “N-heterocyclyl” refers to heterocyclyl radicals as defined above containing at least one nitrogen atom in ring.

“Heterocyclylalkyl” refers to a radical of the formula —R_(a)R_(e) where R_(a) is an alkyl radical as defined above and R_(e) is a heterocyclyl radical as defined above, and if the heterocyclyl is a nitrogen-containing heterocyclyl, the heterocyclyl may be attached to the alkyl radical at the nitrogen atom. The heterocyclyl radical and the alkyl radical may be optionally substituted as defined above.

“Heteroaryl” refers to a 3- to 18-membered aromatic ring radical which consists of carbon atoms and from one to five heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. For purposes of this invention, the heteroaryl radical may be a monocyclic, bicyclic, tricyclic or tetracyclic ring system, which may include fused or bridged ring systems; and the nitrogen, carbon or sulfur atoms in the heteroaryl radical may be optionally oxidized; the nitrogen atom may be optionally quaternized. Examples include, but are not limited to, azepinyl, acridinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzthiazolyl, benzindolyl, benzothiadiazolyl, benzonaphthofuranyl, benzoxazolyl, benzodioxolyl, benzodioxinyl, benzopyranyl, benzopyranonyl, benzofuranyl, benzofuranonyl, benzothienyl (benzothiophenyl), benzotriazolyl, benzo[4,6]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridinyl, carbazolyl, cinnolinyl, dibenzofuranyl, furanyl, furanonyl, isothiazolyl, imidazolyl, indolyl, indazolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, isoindolinyl, indolizinyl, isoxazolyl, naphthyridinyl, oxadiazolyl, 2-oxazepinyl, oxazolyl, oxiranyl, phenazinyl, phenothiazinyl, phenoxazinyl, phthalazinyl, phthalimidyl pteridinyl, purinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinolinyl, quinuclidinyl, isoquinolinyl, thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, triazinyl, and thiophenyl. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, the term “heteroaryl” is meant to include heteroaryl radicals as defined above which are optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, halo, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, nitro, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—C(O)R⁸, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)R⁸, —R⁷—N[S(O)_(t)R⁸]₂ (where t is 0 to 2), —R⁷—N(R⁸)S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2), —R⁷—S(O)_(p)OR⁸ (where p is 1 to 2), —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2), and —R⁷—S(O)_(p)N(R⁸)₂ (where p is 1 to 2) where each R⁸, R⁷ and R¹⁰ is as defined above in the Summary of the Invention. For purposes of this invention, the term “N-heteroaryl” refers to heteroaryl radicals as defined above containing at least one nitrogen atom in ring.

“Heteroarylalkyl” refers to a radical of the formula —R_(a)R_(f) where R_(a) is an alkyl radical as defined above and R_(f) is a heteroaryl radical as defined above, and if the heteroaryl is a nitrogen-containing heteroaryl, the heteroaryl may be attached to the alkyl radical at the nitrogen atom. The heteroaryl radical and the alkyl radical may be optionally substituted as defined above.

As used herein, compounds which are “commercially available” may be obtained from standard commercial sources including Acros Organics (Pittsburgh Pa.), Aldrich Chemical (Milwaukee Wis., including Sigma Chemical and Fluka), Apin Chemicals Ltd. (Milton Park UK), Avocado Research (Lancashire U.K.), BDH Inc. (Toronto, Canada), Bionet (Cornwall, U.K.), Chemservice Inc. (West Chester Pa.), Crescent Chemical Co. (Hauppauge N.Y.), Eastman Organic Chemicals, Eastman Kodak Company (Rochester N.Y.), Fisher Scientific Co. (Pittsburgh Pa.), Fisons Chemicals (Leicestershire UK), Frontier Scientific (Logan Utah), ICN Biomedicals, Inc. (Costa Mesa Calif.), Key Organics (Cornwall U.K.), Lancaster Synthesis (Windham N.H.), Maybridge Chemical Co. Ltd. (Cornwall U.K.), Parish Chemical Co. (Orem Utah), Pfaltz & Bauer, Inc. (Waterbury Conn.), Polyorganix (Houston Tex.), Pierce Chemical Co. (Rockford Ill.), Riedel de Haen AG (Hannover, Germany), Spectrum Quality Product, Inc. (New Brunswick, N.J.), TCI America (Portland Oreg.), Trans World Chemicals, Inc. (Rockville Md.), and Wako Chemicals USA, Inc. (Richmond Va.).

As used herein, “suitable conditions” for carrying out a synthetic step are explicitly provided herein or may be discerned by reference to publications directed to methods used in synthetic organic chemistry. The reference books and treatise set forth above that detail the synthesis of reactants useful in the preparation of compounds of the present invention, will also provide suitable conditions for carrying out a synthetic step according to the present invention.

As used herein, “methods known to one of ordinary skill in the art” may be identified though various reference books and databases. Suitable reference books and treatise that detail the synthesis of reactants useful in the preparation of compounds of the present invention, or provide references to articles that describe the preparation, include for example, “Synthetic Organic Chemistry”, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York; S. R. Sandier et al., “Organic Functional Group Preparations,” 2nd Ed., Academic Press, New York, 1983; H. O. House, “Modern Synthetic Reactions”, 2nd Ed., W. A. Benjamin, Inc. Menlo Park, Calif. 1972; T. L. Gilchrist, “Heterocyclic Chemistry”, 2nd Ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1992; J. March, “Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms and Structure”, 4th Ed., Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1992. Specific and analogous reactants may also be identified through the indices of known chemicals prepared by the Chemical Abstract Service of the American Chemical Society, which are available in most public and university libraries, as well as through on-line databases (the American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C. may be contacted for more details). Chemicals that are known but not commercially available in catalogs may be prepared by custom chemical synthesis houses, where many of the standard chemical supply houses (e.g., those listed above) provide custom synthesis services.

“Prodrugs” is meant to indicate a compound that may be converted under physiological conditions or by solvolysis to a biologically active compound of the invention. Thus, the term “prodrug” refers to a metabolic precursor of a compound of the invention that is pharmaceutically acceptable. A prodrug may be inactive when administered to a subject in need thereof, but is converted in vivo to an active compound of the invention. Prodrugs are typically rapidly transformed in vivo to yield the parent compound of the invention, for example, by hydrolysis in blood. The prodrug compound often offers advantages of solubility, tissue compatibility or delayed release in a mammalian organism (see, Bundgard, H., Design of Prodrugs (1985), pp. 7-9, 21-24 (Elsevier, Amsterdam).

A discussion of prodrugs is provided in Higuchi, T., et al., “Pro-drugs as Novel Delivery Systems,” A.C.S. Symposium Series, Vol. 14, and in Bioreversible Carriers in Drug Design, ed. Edward B. Roche, American Pharmaceutical Association and Pergamon Press, 1987, both of which are incorporated in full by reference herein.

The term “prodrug” is also meant to include any covalently bonded carriers which release the active compound of the invention in vivo when such prodrug is administered to a mammalian subject. Prodrugs of a compound of the invention may be prepared by modifying functional groups present in the compound of the invention in such a way that the modifications are cleaved, either in routine manipulation or in vivo, to the parent compound of the invention. Prodrugs include compounds of the invention wherein a hydroxy, amino or mercapto group is bonded to any group that, when the prodrug of the compound of the invention is administered to a mammalian subject, cleaves to form a free hydroxy, free amino or free mercapto group, respectively. Examples of prodrugs include, but are not limited to, acetate, formate and benzoate derivatives of alcohol and amine functional groups in the compounds of the invention and the like.

“Stable compound” and “stable structure” are meant to indicate a compound that is sufficiently robust to survive isolation to a useful degree of purity from a reaction mixture, and formulation into an efficacious therapeutic agent.

“Mammal” includes humans and domestic animals, such as cats, dogs, swine, cattle, sheep, goats, horses, rabbits, and the like.

“Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event of circumstances may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances in which it does not. For example, “optionally substituted aryl” means that the aryl radical may or may not be substituted and that the description includes both substituted aryl radicals as defined herein and aryl radicals having no substitution.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient” includes without limitation any adjuvant, carrier, excipient, glidant, sweetening agent, diluent, preservative, dye/colorant, flavor enhancer, surfactant, wetting agent, dispersing agent, suspending agent, stabilizer, isotonic agent, solvent, or emulsifier which has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration as being acceptable for use in humans or domestic animals.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable salt” includes both acid and base addition salts.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt” refers to those salts which retain the biological effectiveness and properties of the free bases, which are not biologically or otherwise undesirable, and which are formed with inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid and the like, and organic acids such as acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, propionic acid, glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, oxalic acid, maleic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, mandelic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, salicylic acid, and the like.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable base addition salt” refers to those salts which retain the biological effectiveness and properties of the free acids, which are not biologically or otherwise undesirable. These salts are prepared from addition of an inorganic base or an organic base to the free acid. Salts derived from inorganic bases include, but are not limited to, the sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, aluminum salts and the like. Preferred inorganic salts are the ammonium, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium salts. Salts derived from organic bases include, but are not limited to, salts of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, substituted amines including naturally occurring substituted amines, cyclic amines and basic ion exchange resins, such as isopropylamine, trimethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, tripropylamine, ethanolamine, 2-dimethylaminoethanol, 2-diethylaminoethanol, dicyclohexylamine, lysine, arginine, histidine, caffeine, procaine, hydrabamine, choline, betaine, ethylenediamine, glucosamine, methylglucamine, theobromine, purines, piperazine, piperidine, N-ethylpiperidine, polyamine resins and the like. Particularly preferred organic bases are isopropylamine, diethylamine, ethanolamine, trimethylamine, dicyclohexylamine, choline and caffeine.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable derivative” refers to pharmaceutically acceptable salts as defined herein and also includes esters, prodrugs, solvates and polymorphs of the compounds of the invention.

“Therapeutically effective amount” refers to that amount of a compound of formula (I) which, when administered to a mammal, preferably a human, is sufficient to effect treatment, as defined below, for a disease-state associated the nuclear receptor activity. The amount of a compound of formula (I) which constitutes a “therapeutically effective amount” will vary depending on the compound, the condition and its severity, and the age of the mammal to be treated, but can be determined routinely by one of ordinary skill in the art having regard to his own knowledge and to this disclosure.

“Modulating” or “modulate” refers to the treating, prevention, suppression, enhancement or induction of a function or condition. For example, the compounds of the present invention can modulate hyperlipidemia by lowering cholesterol in a human, thereby suppressing hyperlipidemia.

“Treating” or “treatment” as used herein covers the treatment of a disease or condition associated with the nuclear receptor activity as disclosed herein, in a mammal, preferably a human, and includes:

(i) preventing a disease or condition associated with the nuclear receptor activity from occurring in a mammal, in particular, when such mammal is predisposed to the disease or condition but has not yet been diagnosed as having it;

(ii) inhibiting a disease or condition associated with the nuclear receptor activity, i.e., arresting its development; or

(iii) relieving a disease or condition associated with the nuclear receptor activity, i.e., causing regression of the condition.

The compounds of formula (I), or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts may contain one or more asymmetric centers and may thus give rise to enantiomers, diastereomers, and other stereoisomeric forms that may be defined, in terms of absolute stereochemistry, as (R)- or (S)- or, as (D)- or (L)- for amino acids. The present invention is meant to include all such possible isomers, as well as, their racemic and optically pure forms. Optically active (+) and (−), (R)- and (S)-, or (D)- and (L)-isomers may be prepared using chiral synthons or chiral reagents, or resolved using conventional techniques, such as reverse phase HPLC. When the compounds described herein contain olefinic double bonds or other centers of geometric asymmetry, and unless specified otherwise, it is intended that the compounds include both E and Z geometric isomers. Likewise, all tautomeric forms are also intended to be included.

The chemical naming protocol and structure diagrams used herein employ and rely on the chemical naming features as utilized by the ChemDraw program (available from Cambridgesoft Corp., Cambridge, Mass.). In particular, the compound names were derived from the structures using the Autonom program as utilized by Chemdraw Ultra or ISIS base (MDL Corp.).

For example, a compound of formula (V) wherein n and m are each 1, Y is sulfur, R¹ is 2,4-difluorobenzyl, R² is cyano, R³ is trifluoromethyl, R⁴ is hydrogen,

is pyridin-3-yl, R⁵ is piperazin-1-yl and R⁶ is a direct bond, i.e., a compound of the following formula:

is named herein as 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-(6-piperazin-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile.

The term “atherosclerosis” refers to process whereby atherosclerotic plaques form within the inner lining of the artery wall leading to atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases can be recognized and understood by physicians practicing in the relevant fields of medicine, and include without limitation, restenosis, coronary heart disease (also known as coronary artery heart disease or ischemic heart disease), cerebrovascular disease including ischemic stroke, multi-infarct dementia, and peripheral vessel disease, including intermittent claudication, and erectile dysfunction.

The term “dyslipidemia” refers to abnormal levels of lipoproteins in blood plasma including both depressed and/or elevated levels of lipoproteins (e.g., elevated levels of Low Density Lipoprotein, (LDL), Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL) and depressed levels of High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) (less than 40 mg/dL)).

As used herein, “EC₅₀” refers to a dosage, concentration or amount of a particular test compound that elicits a dose-dependent response at 50% of maximal expression of a particular response that is induced, provoked or potentiated by the particular test compound.

The term “hyperlipidemia” refers to the presence of an abnormally elevated level of lipids in the blood. Hyperlipidemia can appear in at least three forms: (1) hypercholesterolemia, i.e., an elevated LDL cholesterol level (120 mg/dL and above); (2) hypertriglyceridemia, i.e., an elevated triglyceride level; (150 mg/dL and above) and (3) combined hyperlipidemia, i.e., a combination of hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia.

As used herein, “IC₅₀” refers to an amount, concentration or dosage of a particular test compound that achieves a 50% inhibition of a maximal response, such as modulation of nuclear receptor, including the LXRα or LXRβ activity, in an assay that measures such response.

As used herein, “LXRα” (LXR alpha) refers to all mammalian forms of such receptor including, for example, alternative splice isoforms and naturally occurring isoforms. Representative LXRα species include, without limitation the rat (Genbank Accession NM_(—)031627), mouse (Genbank Accession BC012646), and human (GenBank Accession No. U22662) forms of the receptor.

As used herein, “LXRβ” (LXR beta) refers to all mammalian forms of such receptor including, for example, alternative splice isoforms and naturally occurring isoforms. Representative LXRβ species include, without limitation the rat (GenBank Accession NM_(—)031626), mouse (Genbank Accession NM_(—)009473), and human (GenBank Accession No. U07132) forms of the receptor.

As used herein “LXR” or “LXRs” refers to both LXRα and LXRβ.

The terms “obese” and “obesity” refers to a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 27.8 kg/m² for men and 27.3 kg m² for women (BMI equals weight (kg)/height (m²).

Utility of the Compounds of the Invention

The compounds of the invention exhibit valuable pharmacological properties in mammals, and are particularly useful as selective LXR agonists, antagonists, inverse agonists, partial agonists and antagonists, for the treatment, or prevention of diseases associated with, or symptoms arising from the complications of, altered cholesterol transport, cholesterol reverse transport, fatty acid metabolism, cholesterol absorption, cholesterol re-absorption, cholesterol secretion, cholesterol excretion, or cholesterol metabolism.

These diseases include, for example, hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, hyperlipoproteinemia, (see, e.g., Patent Application Publication Nos. WO 00/57915 and WO 00/37077), hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, diabetes, lipodystrophy, obesity, syndrome X (US Patent Application No. 20030073614, International Patent Application Publication No. WO 01/82917), excess lipid deposition in peripheral tissues such as skin (xanthomas) (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,184,215 and 6,187,814), stroke, peripheral occlusive disease, memory loss (Brain Research (1997), Vol. 752, pp. 189-196), optic nerve and retinal pathologies (i.e., macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa), repair of traumatic damage to the central or peripheral nervous system (Trends in Neurosciences (1994), Vol. 17, pp. 525-530), prevention of the degenerative process due to aging (American Journal of Pathology (1997), Vol. 151, pp. 1371-1377), Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease (see, e.g., International Patent Application Publication No. WO 00/17334; Trends in Neurosciences (1994), Vol. 17, pp. 525-530), prevention of degenerative neuropathies occurring in diseases such as diabetic neuropathies (see, e.g., International Patent Application Publication No. WO 01/82917), multiple sclerosis (Annals of Clinical Biochem. (1996), Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 148-150), and autoimmune diseases (J. Lipid Res. (1998), Vol. 39, pp. 1740-1743).

Also provided, are methods of increasing the expression of ATP-Binding Cassette (ABCA1), (see, e.g., International Patent Application Publication No. WO 00/78972) thereby increasing reverse cholesterol transport in mammalian cells using the claimed compounds and compositions.

Accordingly in another aspect, the invention also includes methods to remove cholesterol from tissue deposits such as atherosclerotic plaques or xanthomas in a patient with atherosclerosis or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease manifest by clinical signs of such disease, wherein the methods comprise administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or composition of the present invention.

Additionally, the instant invention also provides a method for preventing or reducing the risk of a first or subsequent occurrence of an atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease event including ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, multi-infarct dementia, and intermittent claudication comprising the administration of a prophylactically effective amount of a compound or composition of the present invention to a patient at risk for such an event. The patient may already have atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease at the time of administration, or may be at risk for developing it. Risk factors for developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events include increasing age (65 and over), male gender, a family history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events, high blood cholesterol (especially LDL or “bad” cholesterol over 100 mg/dL), cigarette smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and physical inactivity.

Also contemplated herein is the use of a compound of the invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof, in combination with one or more of the following therapeutic agents in treating atherosclerosis: antihyperlipidemic agents, plasma HDL-raising agents, antihypercholesterolemic agents, cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitors (such as HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, such as lovastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin, atorvastatin and rivastatin), acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acytransferase (ACAT) inhibitors, probucol, raloxifene, nicotinic acid, niacinamide, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, bile acid sequestrants (such as anion exchange resins, or quaternary amines (e.g., cholestyramine or colestipol)), low density lipoprotein receptor inducers, clofibrate, fenofibrate, benzafibrate, cipofibrate, gemfibrizol, vitamin B₆, vitamin B₁₂, anti-oxidant vitamins, β-blockers, anti-diabetes agents, angiotensin II antagonists, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, platelet aggregation inhibitors, fibrinogen receptor antagonists, aspirin or fibric acid derivatives.

In one embodiment compounds of the invention are used in combination with a cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitor, particularly an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. The term HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is intended to include all pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, free acid and lactone forms of compounds which have HMG-CoA reductase inhibitory activity and, therefore, the use of such salts, esters, free acids and lactone forms is included within the scope of this invention. Compounds which have inhibitory activity for HMG-CoA reductase can be readily identified using assays well-known in the art. For instance, suitable assays are described or disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,938 and WO 84/02131. Examples of suitable HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors include, but are not limited to, lovastatin (MEVACOR®; see, U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,938); simvastatin (ZOCOR®; see, U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,784); pravastatin sodium (PRAVACHOL®); see, U.S. Pat. No. 4,346,227); fluvastatin sodium (LESCOL®); see, U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,772); atorvastatin calcium (LIPITOR®; see, U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,995) and rivastatin (also known as cerivastatin; see, U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,080). The structural formulas of these and additional HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention are described at page 87 of M. Yalpani, “Cholesterol Lowering Drugs,” Chemistry & Industry, pp. 85-89 (5 Feb. 1996). In presently preferred embodiments, the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is selected from lovastatin and simvastatin.

The compounds of the present invention can also be used in methods for decreasing hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, i.e., in methods for treating diabetes (International Patent Application Publication No. WO 01/82917), and in methods of treatment, prevention, or amelioration of disorders related to, or arising as complications of diabetes, hyperglycemia or insulin resistance including the cluster of disease states, conditions or disorders that make up “Syndrome X” (See US Patent Application 20030073614) comprising the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or composition of the present invention to a patient in need of such treatment.

Additionally the instant invention also provides a method for preventing or reducing the risk of developing hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, diabetes or syndrome X in a patient, comprising the administration of a prophylactically effective amount of a compound or composition of the present invention to a patient at risk for such an event.

Diabetes mellitus, commonly called diabetes, refers to a disease process derived from multiple causative factors and characterized by elevated levels of plasma glucose, referred to as hyperglycemia. See, e.g., LeRoith, D. et al., (eds.), DIABETES MELLITUS (Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, Pa. U.S.A. 1996). According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes mellitus is estimated to affect approximately 6% of the world population. Uncontrolled hyperglycemia is associated with increased and premature mortality due to an increased risk for macrovascular and macrovascular diseases, including nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease and coronary heart disease. Therefore, control of glucose homeostasis is a critically important approach for the treatment of diabetes.

There are two major forms of diabetes: type 1 diabetes (formerly referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes or IDEM); and type 2 diabetes (formerly referred to as noninsulin dependent diabetes or NIDDM).

Type 2 diabetes is a disease characterized by insulin resistance accompanied by relative, rather than absolute, insulin deficiency. Type 2 diabetes can range from predominant insulin resistance with relative insulin deficiency to predominant insulin deficiency with some insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is the diminished ability of insulin to exert its biological action across a broad range of concentrations. In insulin resistant individuals, the body secretes abnormally high amounts of insulin to compensate for this defect. When inadequate amounts of insulin are present to compensate for insulin resistance and adequate control of glucose, a state of impaired glucose tolerance develops. In a significant number of individuals, insulin secretion declines further and the plasma glucose level rises, resulting in the clinical state of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can be due to a profound resistance to insulin stimulating regulatory effects on glucose and lipid metabolism in the main insulin-sensitive tissues: muscle, liver and adipose tissue. This resistance to insulin responsiveness results in insufficient insulin activation of glucose uptake, oxidation and storage in muscle and inadequate insulin repression of lipolysis in adipose tissue and of glucose production and secretion in liver. In Type 2 diabetes, free fatty acid levels are often elevated in obese and some non-obese patients and lipid oxidation is increased.

Premature development of atherosclerosis and increased rate of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases are characteristic features of patients with diabetes. Hyperlipidemia is an important precipitating factor for these diseases. Hyperlipidemia is a condition generally characterized by an abnormal increase in serum lipids, e.g., cholesterol and triglyceride, in the bloodstream and is an important risk factor in developing atherosclerosis and heart disease. For a review of disorders of lipid metabolism, see, e.g., Wilson, J. et al., (ed.), Disorders of Lipid Metabolism, Chapter 23, Textbook of Endocrinology, 9th Edition, (W. B. Sanders Company, Philadelphia, Pa. U.S.A. 1998). Hyperlipidemia is usually classified as primary or secondary hyperlipidemia. Primary hyperlipidemia is generally caused by genetic defects, while secondary hyperlipidemia is generally caused by other factors, such as various disease states, drugs, and dietary factors. Alternatively, hyperlipidemia can result from both a combination of primary and secondary causes of hyperlipidemia. Elevated cholesterol levels are associated with a number of disease states, including coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, carotid artery disease, strokes, cerebral arteriosclerosis, and xanthoma.

Dyslipidemia, or abnormal levels of lipoproteins in blood plasma, is a frequent occurrence among diabetics, and has been shown to be one of the main contributors to the increased incidence of coronary events and deaths among diabetic subjects (see, e.g., Joslin, E. Ann. Chim. Med. (1927), Vol. 5, pp. 1061-1079). Epidemiological studies since then have confirmed the association and have shown a several-fold increase in coronary deaths among diabetic subjects when compared with non-diabetic subjects (see, e.g., Garcia, M. J. et al., Diabetes (1974), Vol. 23, pp. 105-11 (1974); and Laakso, M. and Lehto, S., Diabetes Reviews (1997), Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 294-315). Several lipoprotein abnormalities have been described among diabetic subjects (Howard B., et al., Arteriosclerosis (1978), Vol. 30, pp. 153-162).

The compounds of the invention can also be used effectively in combination with one or more additional active diabetes agents depending on the desired target therapy (see, e.g., Turner, N. et al., Prog. Drug Res. (1998), Vol. 51, pp. 33-94; Haffner, S., Diabetes Care (1998), Vol. 21, pp. 160-178; and DeFronzo, R. et al. (eds.), Diabetes Reviews (1997), Vol. 5, No. 4). A number of studies have investigated the benefits of combination therapies with oral agents (see, e.g., Mahler, R., J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. (1999), Vol. 84, pp. 1165-71; United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study Group: UKPDS 28, Diabetes Care (1998), Vol. 21, pp. 87-92; Bardin, C. W. (ed.), CURRENT THERAPY IN ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM, 6th Edition (Mosby—Year Book, Inc., St. Louis, Mo. 1997); Chiasson, J. et al., Ann. Intern. Med. (1994), Vol. 121, pp. 928-935; Coniff, R. et al., Clin. Ther. (1997), Vol. 19, pp. 16-26; Coniff, R. et al., Am. J. Med. (1995), Vol. 98, pp. 443-451; Iwamoto, Y. et al., Diabet. Med. (1996), Vol. 13, pp. 365-370; Kwiterovich, P., Am. J. Cardiol (1998), Vol. 82 (12A), pp. 3U-17U). These studies indicate that diabetes and hyperlipidemia modulation can be further improved by the addition of a second agent to the therapeutic regimen.

Accordingly, the compounds of the invention may be used in combination with one or more of the following therapeutic agents in treating diabetes: sulfonylureas (such as chlorpropamide, tolbutamide, acetohexamide, tolazamide, glyburide, gliclazide, glynase, glimepiride, and glipizide), biguanides (such as metformin), thiazolidinediones (such as ciglitazone, pioglitazone, troglitazone, and rosiglitazone), and related insulin sensitizers, such as selective and non-selective activators of PPARα, PPARβ and PPARγ; dehydroepiandrosterone (also referred to as DHEA or its conjugated sulphate ester, DHEA-SO₄); antiglucocorticoids; TNFα inhibitors; α-glucosidase inhibitors (such as acarbose, miglitol, and voglibose), pramlintide (a synthetic analog of the human hormone amylin), other insulin secretagogues (such as repaglinide, gliquidone, and nateglinide), insulin, as well as the therapeutic agents discussed above for treating atherosclerosis.

Further provided by this invention are methods of using the compounds of the invention to treat obesity, as well as the complications of obesity. Obesity is linked to a variety of medical conditions including diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Obesity is also a known risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes (See, e.g., Barrett-Conner, E., Epidemol. Rev. (1989), Vol. 11, pp. 172-181; and Knowler, et al., Am. J. Clin. Nutr. (1991), Vol. 53, pp. 1543-1551).

In addition, the compounds of the invention can be used in combination with agents used in treated obesity or obesity-related disorders. Such agents, include, but are not limited to, phenylpropanolamine, phentermine, diethylpropion, mazindol, fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine, pheniramine, β₃ adrenoceptor agonist agents; sibutramine, gastrointestinal lipase inhibitors (such as orlistat), and leptins. Other agents used in treating obesity or obesity-related disorders include neuropeptide Y, enterostatin, cholecytokinin, bombesin, amylin, histamine H₃ receptors, dopamine D₂ receptor modulators, melanocyte stimulating hormone, corticotrophin releasing factor, galanin and gamma amino butyric acid (GABA).

Evaluation of the Utility of the Compounds of the Invention

Standard physiological, pharmacological and biochemical procedures are available for testing the compounds to identify those that possess biological activities that modulate the activity or nuclear receptors, including the LXRs (LXRα and LXRβ). Such assays include, for example, biochemical assays such as binding assays, fluorescence polarization assays, FRET based coactivator recruitment assays (see, generally, Glickman et al., J. Biomolecular Screening (2002), Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 3-10, as well as cell based assays including the co-transfection assay, the use of LBD-Gal 4 chimeras and protein-protein interaction assays, (see, Lehmann. et al., J. Biol. Chem. (1997), Vol. 272, No. 6, pp. 3137-3140.

High throughput screening systems are commercially available (see, e.g., Zymark Corp., Hopkinton, Mass.; Air Technical Industries, Mentor, Ohio; Beckman Instruments Inc., Fullerton, Calif.; Precision Systems, Inc., Natick, Mass.) that enable these assays to be run in a high throughput mode. These systems typically automate entire procedures, including all sample and reagent pipetting, liquid dispensing timed incubations, and final readings of the microplate in detector(s) appropriate for the assay. These configurable systems provide high throughput and rapid start up as well as a high degree of flexibility and customization. The manufacturers of such systems provide detailed protocols for various high throughput systems. Thus, for example, Zymark Corp. provides technical bulletins describing screening systems for detecting the modulation of gene transcription, ligand binding, and the like.

Assays that do not require washing or liquid separation steps are preferred for such high throughput screening systems and include biochemical assays such as fluorescence polarization assays (see, for example, Owicki, J., Biomol. Screen (2000 October), Vol. 5, No. 5, pp. 297), scintillation proximity assays (SPA) (see, for example, Carpenter et al., Methods Mol. Biol. (2002), Vol 190, pp. 31-49) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer energy transfer (FRET) or time resolved FRET based coactivator recruitment assays (Mukherjee et al., J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. (2002 July); Vol. 81, No. 3, pp. 217-25; (Zhou et al., Mol. Endocrinol. (1998 October), Vol. 12, No. 10, pp. 1594-604). Generally such assays can be preformed using either the full length receptor, or isolated ligand binding domain (LBD). In the case of LXRα, the LBD comprises amino acids 188-447, for LXRβ the LDB comprises amino acids 198-461, and for FXR, the LBD comprises amino acids 244 to 472 of the full length sequence.

If a fluorescently labeled ligand is available, fluorescence polarization assays provide a way of detecting binding of compounds to the nuclear receptor of interest by measuring changes in fluorescence polarization that occur as a result of the displacement of a trace amount of the label ligand by the compound. Additionally this approach can also be used to monitor the ligand dependent association of a fluorescently labeled coactivator peptide to the nuclear receptor of interest to detect ligand binding to the nuclear receptor of interest.

The ability of a compound to bind to a receptor, or heterodimer complex with RXR, can also be measured in a homogeneous assay format by assessing the degree to which the compound can compete off a radiolabelled ligand with known affinity for the receptor using a scintillation proximity assay (SPA). In this approach, the radioactivity emitted by a radiolabelled compound (for example, [³H] 24,25 Epoxycholesterol) generates an optical signal when it is brought into close proximity to a scintillant such as a Ysi-copper containing bead, to which the nuclear receptor is bound. If the radiolabelled compound is displaced from the nuclear receptor the amount of light emitted from the nuclear receptor bound scintillant decreases, and this can be readily detected using standard microplate liquid scintillation plate readers such as, for example, a Wallac MicroBeta reader.

The heterodimerization of LXR with RXRα can also be measured by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), or time resolved FRET, to monitor the ability of the compounds provided herein to bind to LXR or other nuclear receptors. Both approaches rely upon the fact that energy transfer from a donor molecule to an acceptor molecule only occurs when donor and acceptor are in close proximity. Typically the purified LBD of the nuclear receptor of interest is labeled with biotin then mixed with stoichiometric amounts of europium labeled streptavidin (Wallac Inc.), and the purified LBD of RXRα is labeled with a suitable fluorophore such as CY5™. Equimolar amounts of each modified LBD are mixed together and allowed to equilibrate for at least 1 hour prior to addition to either variable or constant concentrations of the sample for which the affinity is to be determined. After equilibration, the time-resolved fluorescent signal is quantitated using a fluorescent plate reader. The affinity of the compound can then be estimated from a plot of fluorescence versus concentration of compound added.

This approach can also be exploited to measure the ligand dependent interaction of a co-activator peptide with a nuclear receptor in order to characterize the agonist or antagonist activity of the compounds disclosed herein. Typically the assay in this case involves the use a recombinant Glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-nuclear receptor ligand binding domain (LBD) fusion protein and a synthetic biotinylated peptide sequenced derived from the receptor interacting domain of a co-activator peptide such as the steroid receptor coactivator 1 (SRC-1). Typically GST-LBD is labeled with a europium chelate (donor) via a europium-tagged anti-GST antibody, and the coactivator peptide is labeled with allophycocyanin via a streptavidin-biotin linkage.

In the presence of an agonist for the nuclear receptor, the peptide is recruited to the GST-LBD bringing europium and allophycocyanin into close proximity to enable energy transfer from the europium chelate to the allophycocyanin. Upon excitation of the complex with light at 340 nm excitation energy absorbed by the europium chelate is transmitted to the allophycocyanin moiety resulting in emission at 665 nm. If the europium chelate is not brought in to close proximity to the allophycocyanin moiety there is little or no energy transfer and excitation of the europium chelate results in emission at 615 nm. Thus the intensity of light emitted at 665 nm gives an indication of the strength of the protein-protein interaction. The activity of a nuclear receptor antagonist can be measured by determining the ability of a compound to competitively inhibit (i.e., IC₅₀) the activity of an agonist for the nuclear receptor.

In addition a variety of cell based assay methodologies may be successfully used in screening assays to identify and profile the specificity of compounds of the present invention. These approaches include the co-transfection assay, translocation assays, complementation assays and the use of gene activation technologies to over express endogenous nuclear receptors.

Three basic variants of the co-transfection assay strategy exist, co-transfection assays using full-length nuclear receptor, co transfection assays using chimeric nuclear receptors comprising the ligand binding domain of the nuclear receptor of interest fused to a heterologous DNA binding domain, and assays based around the use of the mammalian two hybrid assay system.

The basic co-transfection assay is based on the co-transfection into the cell of an expression plasmid to express the nuclear receptor of interest in the cell with a reporter plasmid comprising a reporter gene whose expression is under the control of DNA sequence that is capable of interacting with that nuclear receptor (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,071,773; 5,298,429 and 6,416,957). Treatment of the transfected cells with an agonist for the nuclear receptor increases the transcriptional activity of that receptor which is reflected by an increase in expression of the reporter gene which may be measured by a variety of standard procedures.

For those receptors that function as heterodimers with RXR, such as the LXRs, the co-transfection assay typically includes the use of expression plasmids for both the nuclear receptor of interest and RXR. Typical co-transfection assays require access to the full length nuclear receptor and suitable response elements that provide sufficient screening sensitivity and specificity to the nuclear receptor of interest.

Typically, the expression plasmid comprises: (1) a promoter, such as an SV40 early region promoter, HSV tk promoter or phosphoglycerate kinase (pgk) promoter, CMV promoter, Srα promoter or other suitable control elements known in the art, (2) a cloned polynucleotide sequence, such as a cDNA encoding a receptor, co-factor, or fragment thereof, ligated to the promoter in sense orientation so that transcription from the promoter will produce a RNA that encodes a functional protein, and (3) a polyadenylation sequence. For example and not limitation, an expression cassette of the invention may comprise the cDNA expression cloning vectors, or other preferred expression vectors known and commercially available from vendors such as Invitrogen, (CA), Stratagene, (CA) or Clontech, (CA). Alternatively expression vectors developed by academic groups such as the pCMX vectors originally developed in the Evans lab (Willey et al. Genes & Development 9 1033-1045 (1995)) may also be used.

The transcriptional regulatory sequences in an expression cassette are selected by the practitioner based on the intended application; depending upon the specific use, transcription regulation can employ inducible, repressible, constitutive, cell-type specific, developmental stage-specific, sex-specific, or other desired type of promoter or control sequence.

Alternatively, the expression plasmid may comprise an activation sequence to activate or increase the expression of an endogenous chromosomal sequence. Such activation sequences include for example, a synthetic zinc finger motif (for example see U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,534,261 and 6,503,7171) or a strong promoter or enhancer sequence together with a targeting sequence to enable homologous or non-homologous recombination of the activating sequence upstream of the gene of interest.

Genes encoding the following full-length previously described proteins, which are suitable for use in the co-transfection studies and profiling the compounds described herein, include human LXRα (accession U22662), human LXRβ (accession U07132), rat FXR (accession U18374), human FXR (accession NM_(—)005123), human RXR α (accession NM_(—)002957), human RXR P (accession XM_(—)042579), human RXR.γ (accession XM_(—)053680), human PPARα (accession X57638) and human PPAR δ (accession U10375). All accession numbers in this application refer to GenBank accession numbers.

Reporter plasmids may be constructed using standard molecular biological techniques by placing cDNA encoding for the reporter gene downstream from a suitable minimal promoter. For example luciferase reporter plasmids may be constructed by placing cDNA encoding firefly luciferase (typically with SV40 small t intron and poly-A tail, (de Wet et al., (1987) Mol. Cell. Biol. 7 725-735) down stream from the herpes virus thymidine kinase promoter (located at nucleotides residues-105 to +51 of the thymidine kinase nucleotide sequence, obtained for example, from the plasmid pBLCAT2 (Luckow & Schutz (1987) Nucl. Acid. Res. 15 5490-5494)) which is linked in turn to the appropriate response element (RE).

The choice of hormone response element is dependent upon the type of assay to be used. In the case of the use of the full-length LXRα or LXRβ a reporter plasmid comprising a known LXR RE would typically be used, such as for example in a reporter plasmid such as LXREx1-tk-luciferase, (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,747,661, which is hereby incorporated by reference). In the case of a LXRα or LXRβ-LBD-Gal4 fusion, GAL4 Upstream Activating Sequences (UAS) would be used. Typically the GAL4 UAS would comprise the sequence 5′CGGRNNRCYNYNCNCCG-3′, where Y=C or T, R=A or G, and N=A, C, T or G, and would be present as a tandem repeat of 4 copies.

Numerous methods of co-transfecting the expression and reporter plasmids are known to those of skill in the art and may be used for the co-transfection assay to introduce the plasmids into a suitable cell type. Typically such a cell will not endogenously express nuclear receptors that interact with the response elements used in the reporter plasmid.

Numerous reporter gene systems are known in the art and include, for example, alkaline phosphatase (see, Berger, J., et al., Gene (1988), Vol. 66, pp. 1-10; and Kain, S. R., Methods. Mol. Biol. (1997), Vol. 63, pp. 49-60), β-galactosidase (See, U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,012, issued Dec., 3, 1991 to Nolan et al., and Bronstein, I., et al., J. Chemilum. Biolum. (1989), Vol. 4, pp. 99-111), chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (See, Gorman et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. (1982), Vol. 2, pp. 1044-51), β-glucuronidase, peroxidase, β-lactamase (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,741,657 and 5,955,604), catalytic antibodies, luciferases (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,221,623; 5,683,888; 5,674,713; 5,650,289; and 5,843,746) and naturally fluorescent proteins (Tsien, R. Y., Annu. Rev. Biochem. (1998), Vol. 67, pp. 509-44).

The use of chimeras comprising the ligand binding domain (LBD) of the nuclear receptor of interest to a heterologous DNA binding domain (DBD) expands the versatility of cell based assays by directing activation of the nuclear receptor in question to defined DNA binding elements recognized by defined DNA binding domain (see WO95/18380). This assay expands the utility of cell based co-transfection assays in cases where the biological response or screening window using the native DNA binding domain is not satisfactory.

In general the methodology is similar to that used with the basic co-transfection assay, except that a chimeric construct is used in place of the full length nuclear receptor. As with the full length nuclear receptor, treatment of the transfected cells with an agonist for the nuclear receptor LBD increases the transcriptional activity of the heterologous DNA binding domain which is reflected by an increase in expression of the reporter gene as described above. Typically for such chimeric constructs, the DNA binding domains from defined nuclear receptors, or from yeast or bacterially derived transcriptional regulators such as members of the GAL 4 and Lex A/Umud super families are used.

A third cell based assay of utility for screening compounds of the present invention is a mammalian two-hybrid assay that measures the ability of the nuclear hormone receptor to interact with a cofactor in the presence of a ligand (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,667,973, 5,283,173 and 5,468,614). The basic approach is to create three plasmid constructs that enable the interaction of the nuclear receptor with the interacting protein to be coupled to a transcriptional readout within a living cell. The first construct is an expression plasmid for expressing a fusion protein comprising the interacting protein, or a portion of that protein containing the interacting domain, fused to a GAL4 DNA binding domain. The second expression plasmid comprises DNA encoding the nuclear receptor of interest fused to a strong transcription activation domain such as VP16, and the third construct comprises the reporter plasmid comprising a reporter gene with a minimal promoter and GAL4 upstream activating sequences.

Once all three plasmids are introduced into a cell, the GAL4 DNA binding domain encoded in the first construct allows for specific binding of the fusion protein to GAL4 sites upstream of a minimal promoter. However because the GAL4 DNA binding domain typically has no strong transcriptional activation properties in isolation, expression of the reporter gene occurs only at a low level. In the presence of a ligand, the nuclear receptor-VP16 fusion protein can bind to the GAL4-interacting protein fusion protein bringing the strong transcriptional activator VP16 in close proximity to the GAL4 binding sites and minimal promoter region of the reporter gene. This interaction significantly enhances the transcription of the reporter gene which can be measured for various reporter genes as described above. Transcription of the reporter gene is thus driven by the interaction of the interacting protein and nuclear receptor of interest in a ligand dependent fashion.

Any compound which is a candidate for activation of LXRα or LXRβ may be tested by these methods. Generally, compounds are tested at several different concentrations to optimize the chances that activation of the receptor will be detected and recognized if present. Typically assays are performed in triplicate and vary within experimental error by less than 15%. Each experiment is typically repeated three or more times with similar results.

Activity of the reporter gene can be conveniently normalized to the internal control and the data plotted as fold activation relative to untreated cells. A positive control compound (agonist) may be included along with DMSO as high and low controls for normalization of the assay data. Similarly, antagonist activity can be measured by determining the ability of a compound to competitively inhibit the activity of an agonist.

Additionally the compounds and compositions can be evaluated for their ability to increase or decrease the expression of genes known to be modulated by LXRα or LXRβ and other nuclear receptors in vivo, using Northern-blot, RT PCR or oligonucleotide microarray analysis to analyze RNA levels. Western-blot analysis can be used to measure expression of proteins encoded by LXR target genes. Genes that are known to be regulated by the LXRs include the ATP binding cassette transporters ABCA1, ABCG1, ABCG5, ABCG8, the sterol response element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c) gene, stearoyl CoA desaturase 1 (SCD-1) and the apolipoprotein apoE gene (ApoE).

Established animal models exist for a number of diseases of direct relevance to the claimed compounds and these can be used to further profile and characterize the claimed compounds. These model systems include diabetic dyslipidemia using Zucker (fa/fa) rats or (db/db) mice, spontaneous hyperlipidemia using apolipoprotein E deficient mice (ApoE^(−/−)), diet-induced hyperlipidemia, using low density lipoprotein receptor deficient mice (LDR^(−/−)) and atherosclerosis using both the Apo E(^(−/−)) and LDL(^(−/−)) mice fed a western diet. (21% fat, 0.05% cholesterol). Additionally LXR or FXR animal models (e.g., knockout mice) can be used to further evaluate the present compounds and compositions in vivo (see, for example, Peet, et al., Cell (1998), Vol. 93, pp. 693-704, and Sinal, et al., Cell (2000), Vol. 102, pp. 731-744).

Administration of the Compounds of the Invention

Administration of the compounds of the invention, or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, in pure form or in an appropriate pharmaceutical composition, can be carried out via any of the accepted modes of administration of agents for serving similar utilities. The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention can be prepared by combining a compound of the invention with an appropriate pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient, and may be formulated into preparations in solid, semi-solid, liquid or gaseous forms, such as tablets, capsules, powders, granules, ointments, solutions, suppositories, injections, inhalants, gels, microspheres, and aerosols. Typical routes of administering such pharmaceutical compositions include, without limitation, oral, topical, transdermal, inhalation, parenteral, sublingual, rectal, vaginal, and intranasal. The term parenteral as used herein includes subcutaneous injections, intravenous, intramuscular, intrasternal injection or infusion techniques. Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are formulated so as to allow the active ingredients contained therein to be bioavailable upon administration of the composition to a patient. Compositions that will be administered to a subject or patient take the form of one or more dosage units, where for example, a tablet may be a single dosage unit, and a container of a compound of the invention in aerosol form may hold a plurality of dosage units. Actual methods of preparing such dosage forms are known, or will be apparent, to those skilled in this art; for example, see Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18th Ed., (Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa., 1990). The composition to be administered will, in any event, contain a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for treatment of a disease-state associated with the activity of a nuclear receptor in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

A pharmaceutical composition of the invention may be in the form of a solid or liquid. In one aspect, the carrier(s) are particulate, so that the compositions are, for example, in tablet or powder form. The carrier(s) may be liquid, with the compositions being, for example, an oral syrup, injectable liquid or an aerosol, which is useful in, e.g., inhalatory administration.

When intended for oral administration, the pharmaceutical composition is preferably in either solid or liquid form, where semi-solid, semi-liquid, suspension and gel forms are included within the forms considered herein as either solid or liquid.

As a solid composition for oral administration, the pharmaceutical composition may be formulated into a powder, granule, compressed tablet, pill, capsule, chewing gum, wafer or the like form. Such a solid composition will typically contain one or more inert diluents or edible carriers. In addition, one or more of the following may be present: binders such as carboxymethylcellulose, ethyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, gum tragacanth or gelatin; excipients such as starch, lactose or dextrins, disintegrating agents such as alginic acid, sodium alginate, Primogel, corn starch and the like; lubricants such as magnesium stearate or Sterotex; glidants such as colloidal silicon dioxide; sweetening agents such as sucrose or saccharin; a flavoring agent such as peppermint, methyl salicylate or orange flavoring; and a coloring agent.

When the pharmaceutical composition is in the form of a capsule, e.g., a gelatin capsule, it may contain, in addition to materials of the above type, a liquid carrier such as polyethylene glycol or oil.

The pharmaceutical composition may be in the form of a liquid, e.g., an elixir, syrup, solution, emulsion or suspension. The liquid may be for oral administration or for delivery by injection, as two examples. When intended for oral administration, preferred composition contain, in addition to the present compounds, one or more of a sweetening agent, preservatives, dye/colorant and flavor enhancer. In a composition intended to be administered by injection, one or more of a surfactant, preservative, wetting agent, dispersing agent, suspending agent, buffer, stabilizer and isotonic agent may be included.

The liquid pharmaceutical compositions of the invention, whether they be solutions, suspensions or other like form, may include one or more of the following adjuvants: sterile diluents such as water for injection, saline solution, preferably physiological saline, Ringer's solution, isotonic sodium chloride, fixed oils such as synthetic mono or diglycerides which may serve as the solvent or suspending medium, polyethylene glycols, glycerin, propylene glycol or other solvents; antibacterial agents such as benzyl alcohol or methyl paraben; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid or sodium bisulfite; chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; buffers such as acetates, citrates or phosphates and agents for the adjustment of tonicity such as sodium chloride or dextrose. The parenteral preparation can be enclosed in ampoules, disposable syringes or multiple dose vials made of glass or plastic. Physiological saline is a preferred adjuvant. An injectable pharmaceutical composition is preferably sterile.

A liquid pharmaceutical composition of the invention intended for either parenteral or oral administration should contain an amount of a compound of the invention such that a suitable dosage will be obtained. Typically, this amount is at least 0.01% of a compound of the invention in the composition. When intended for oral administration, this amount may be varied to be between 0.1 and about 70% of the weight of the composition. Preferred oral pharmaceutical compositions contain between about 4% and about 50% of the compound of the invention. Preferred pharmaceutical compositions and preparations according to the present invention are prepared so that a parenteral dosage unit contains between 0.01 to 1% by weight of the compound of the invention.

The pharmaceutical composition of the invention may be intended for topical administration, in which case the carrier may suitably comprise a solution, emulsion, ointment or gel base. The base, for example, may comprise one or more of the following: petrolatum, lanolin, polyethylene glycols, bee wax, mineral oil, diluents such as water and alcohol, and emulsifiers and stabilizers. Thickening agents may be present in a pharmaceutical composition for topical administration. If intended for transdermal administration, the composition may include a transdermal patch or iontophoresis device. Topical formulations may contain a concentration of the compound of the invention from about 0.1 to about 10% w/v (weight per unit volume).

The pharmaceutical composition of the invention may be intended for rectal administration, in the form, e.g., of a suppository, which will melt in the rectum and release the drug. The composition for rectal administration may contain an oleaginous base as a suitable nonirritating excipient. Such bases include, without limitation, lanolin, cocoa butter and polyethylene glycol.

The pharmaceutical composition of the invention may include various materials, which modify the physical form of a solid or liquid dosage unit. For example, the composition may include materials that form a coating shell around the active ingredients. The materials that form the coating shell are typically inert, and may be selected from, for example, sugar, shellac, and other enteric coating agents. Alternatively, the active ingredients may be encased in a gelatin capsule.

The pharmaceutical composition of the invention in solid or liquid form may include an agent that binds to the compound of the invention and thereby assists in the delivery of the compound. Suitable agents that may act in this capacity include a monoclonal or polyclonal antibody, a protein or a liposome.

The pharmaceutical composition of the invention may consist of dosage units that can be administered as an aerosol. The term aerosol is used to denote a variety of systems ranging from those of colloidal nature to systems consisting of pressurized packages. Delivery may be by a liquefied or compressed gas or by a suitable pump system that dispenses the active ingredients. Aerosols of compounds of the invention may be delivered in single phase, bi-phasic, or tri-phasic systems in order to deliver the active ingredient(s). Delivery of the aerosol includes the necessary container, activators, valves, subcontainers, and the like, which together may form a kit. One skilled in the art, without undue experimentation may determine preferred aerosols.

The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may be prepared by methodology well known in the pharmaceutical art. For example, a pharmaceutical composition intended to be administered by injection can be prepared by combining a compound of the invention with sterile, distilled water so as to form a solution. A surfactant may be added to facilitate the formation of a homogeneous solution or suspension. Surfactants are compounds that non-covalently interact with the compound of the invention so as to facilitate dissolution or homogeneous suspension of the compound in the aqueous delivery system.

The compounds of the invention, or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, are administered in a therapeutically effective amount, which will vary depending upon a variety of factors including the activity of the specific compound employed; the metabolic stability and length of action of the compound; the age, body weight, general health, sex, and diet of the patient; the mode and time of administration; the rate of excretion; the drug combination; the severity of the particular disorder or condition; and the subject undergoing therapy. Generally, a therapeutically effective daily dose is from about 0.1 mg to about 20 mg/kg of body weight per day of a compound of the invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; preferably, from about 0.1 mg to about 10 mg/kg of body weight per day; and most preferably, from about 0.1 mg to about 7.5 mg/kg of body weight per day.

Compounds of the invention, or pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, may also be administered simultaneously with, prior to, or after administration of one or more of the therapeutic agents described above in the Utility of the Compounds of the Invention. Such combination therapy includes administration of a single pharmaceutical dosage formulation which contains a compound of the invention and one or more additional active agents, as well as administration of the compound of the invention and each active agent in its own separate pharmaceutical dosage formulation. For example, a compound of the invention and an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor can be administered to the patient together in a single oral dosage composition such as a tablet or capsule, or each agent administered in separate oral dosage formulations. Where separate dosage formulations are used, the compounds of the invention and one or more additional active agents can be administered at essentially the same time, i.e., concurrently, or at separately staggered times, i.e., sequentially; combination therapy is understood to include all these regimens.

Dosage information for HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors is well known in the art, since several HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are marketed in the U.S. In particular, the daily dosage amounts of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor may be the same or similar to those amounts which are employed for anti-hypercholesterolemic treatment and which are described in the Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR). For example, see the 50th Ed. of the PDR, 1996 (Medical Economics Co); in particular, see at page 216 the heading “Hypolipidemics,” sub-heading “HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors,” and the reference pages cited therein. Preferably, the oral dosage amount of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is from about 1 to 200 mg/day and, more preferably, from about 5 to 160 mg/day. However, dosage amounts will vary depending on the potency of the specific HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor used as well as other factors as noted above. An HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor which has sufficiently greater potency may be given in sub-milligram daily dosages.

As examples, the daily dosage amount for simvastatin may be selected from 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, 80 mg and 160 mg for lovastatin, 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg and 80 mg; for fluvastatin sodium, 20 mg, 40 mg and 80 mg; and for pravastatin sodium, 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg. The daily dosage amount for atorvastatin calcium may be in the range of from 1 mg to 160 mg and, more particularly, from 5 mg to 80 mg. Oral administration may be in a single or divided doses of two, three, or four times daily, although a single daily dose of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is preferred.

Embodiments of the Compounds of the Invention

One embodiment of the compounds of formula (I), as set forth above in the Summary of the Invention, is that group of compounds having the following formula (II):

wherein n is 1 to 4; m is 1 to 4; R¹ is hydrogen, aralkyl or heteroarylalkyl; R² is hydrogen, cyano or —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂; R³ is hydrogen or haloalkyl; each R⁴ is independently hydrogen, halo, alkyl or haloalkyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—O—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)R¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸—R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)₂—R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)OR⁸—R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(S)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰, —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2) and —R⁷—S(O)₂N(R⁸)₂; R⁶ is —OR⁷—, a direct bond, a straight or branched alkylene chain, a straight or branched alkenylene chain or a straight or branched alkynylene chain; each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond, a straight or branched alkylene chain or a straight or branched alkenylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl; each R⁹ is independently selected from a straight or branched alkylene chain or a straight or branched alkenylene chain; R¹⁰ is alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; and R¹¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heterarylalkyl; as an isomer, a mixture of stereoisomers, a racemic mixture thereof of stereoisomers, or as a tautomer; or as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, solvate or polymorph thereof.

Of this group of compounds, one embodiment is that subgroup of compounds wherein n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R¹ is aralkyl or heteroarylalkyl; R² is cyano; R³ is haloalkyl; R⁴ is hydrogen, halo, alkyl or haloalkyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—O—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)R¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(S)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰, —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2) and —R⁷—S(O)₂N(R⁸)₂; R⁶ is —OR⁷—, a direct bond, a straight or branched alkenylene chain or a straight or branched alkynylene chain; each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl; each R⁹ is a straight or branched alkylene chain optionally substituted by aryl or heteroaryl; R¹⁰ is alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; and R¹¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heterarylalkyl.

Of this subgroup of compounds, one embodiment is that class of compounds wherein R⁶ is —OR⁷—.

Of this class of compounds, one embodiment is that subclass of compounds wherein R¹ is aralkyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from alkyl, halo or haloalkyl.

Of this subclass of compounds, one embodiment is that set of compounds wherein n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen, methyl, 1-methylethyl or chloro; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, alkyl, alkenyl or haloalkyl.

Of this set of compounds, one embodiment is that subset of compounds wherein each R⁵ is independently selected from hydrogen, chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl, ethyl, 1-methylethyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, ethenyl or trifluoromethyl.

Of the subclass of compounds set forth above, another embodiment is that set of compounds wherein n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen, methyl, 1-methylethyl or chloro; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of haloalkyl, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—OR⁸ and R⁷—O—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸ each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond or methylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, aryl and aralkyl; and R⁹ is a methylene chain.

Of the subclass of compounds set forth above, another embodiment is that set of compounds wherein n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen, methyl, 1-methylethyl or chloro; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of heteroaryl, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)R¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(S)N(R⁸)₂ and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2); each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl or heterocyclyl optionally substituted with hydroxy; R⁹ is a straight or branched alkylene chain (optionally substituted by phenyl or imidazolyl); and R¹¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heterarylalkyl.

Of this set of compounds, one embodiment is that subset of compounds wherein m is 1 or 2; each R⁵ is independently selected from —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)R¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)OR⁸ or —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)N(R⁸)₂; each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond or methylene; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, benzyl, 2-phenylethyl, cyclohexyl or piperidinyl optionally substituted by hydroxy; and R¹¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heterarylalkyl.

Of the subclass of compounds set forth above, another embodiment is that set of compounds wherein n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen, methyl, 1-methylethyl or chloro; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of heteroaryl, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(S)N(R⁸)₂ and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2); each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen or alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl or heterocyclyl; and R⁹ is a straight or branched alkylene chain (optionally substituted by phenyl or imidazolyl).

Of this set of compounds, one embodiment is that subset of compounds wherein n is 1; m is 1; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen or chloro; R⁵ is —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸; R⁷ is a direct bond; each R⁸ is independently hydrogen or alkyl; and R⁹ is a straight or branched alkylene chain optionally substituted by phenyl or imidazolyl.

Of this set of compounds, another embodiment is that subset of compounds wherein n is 1; m is 1; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen, methyl, 1-methylethyl or chloro; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of phthalimidyl, —R⁷—C(S)N(R⁸)₂ and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 or 2); each R⁷ is a direct bond; and each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen or alkyl.

Of the class of compounds of formula (II) as set forth above, another embodiment is that subclass of compounds wherein R¹ is heteroarylalkyl.

Of this subclass of compounds, one embodiment is that set of compounds wherein n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R¹ is optionally substituted thiazol-5-ylmethyl; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen, methyl, 1-methylethyl or chloro; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, alkyl, alkenyl or haloalkyl.

Of the subgroup of compounds of formula (II) set forth above, another embodiment is that class of compounds wherein R¹ is aralkyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from alkyl, halo or haloalkyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)R¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰, —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2) and —R⁷—S(O)₂N(R⁸)₂; R⁶ is a direct bond, a straight or branched alkenylene chain or a straight or branched alkynylene chain; each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl or heterocyclyl; each R⁹ is a straight or branched alkylene chain optionally substituted by aryl or heteroaryl; R¹⁰ is alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; and R¹¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heterarylalkyl.

Of this class of compounds, one embodiment is that subclass of compounds wherein n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from alkyl, halo or haloalkyl; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, trifluoromethyl, —R⁷—OR⁸ and R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2); R⁶ is a direct bond; R⁷ is a direct bond; R⁸ is hydrogen or alkyl; and R⁹ is a straight or branched alkylene chain.

Of this class of compound, another embodiment is that subclass of compounds wherein n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from alkyl, halo or haloalkyl; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, —R⁷—C(O)R¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸ or —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)₂; R⁶ is a direct bond; each R⁷ is a direct bond; each R⁸ is independently hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or aralkyl; and R¹¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, pyrrolidinyl or piperidinyl.

Of this class of compound, another embodiment is that subclass of compounds wherein n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl or —R⁷—OR⁸; R⁶ is a direct bond, a straight or branched alkenylene chain or a straight or branched alkynylene chain; R⁷ is a direct bond; and R⁸ is hydrogen or alkyl.

Of this class of compound, another embodiment is that subclass of compounds wherein n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of nitro, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—OR⁸ or —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰; R⁶ is a direct bond; each R⁷ is a direct bond; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen or alkyl; and R¹⁰ is alkyl.

Another embodiment of the compounds of formula (I), as set forth above in the Summary of the Invention, is that group of compounds having the following formula (III):

wherein Y is oxygen or sulfur; n is 1 or 2; m is 1 to 4; R¹ is aralkyl; R² is hydrogen, cyano, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—N(R⁸)S(O)₂R¹⁰ or —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(NR⁸)N(R⁸)₂; R³ is hydrogen or haloalkyl; each R⁴ is independently hydrogen, halo, alkyl or haloalkyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷— R⁸, —R⁷—OC(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—O—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—O—R⁹—OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)R¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)OR¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)OR⁸—R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(S)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰, —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2) and —R⁷—S(O)₂N(R⁸)₂; R⁶ is —N(R⁸)—, a direct bond, a straight or branched alkylene chain, a straight or branched alkenylene chain or a straight or branched alkynylene chain; each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond, a straight or branched alkylene chain or a straight or branched alkenylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl; each R⁹ is independently selected from a straight or branched alkylene chain or a straight or branched alkenylene chain; each R¹⁰ is independently selected from alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; and R¹¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heterarylalkyl; as an isomer, a mixture of stereoisomers, a racemic mixture thereof of stereoisomers, or as a tautomer; or as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, solvate or polymorph thereof.

Of this group of compounds, one embodiment is that subgroup of compounds wherein Y is oxygen or sulfur; n is 1 or 2; m is 1 to 4; R¹ is aralkyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl and halo; R² is hydrogen, cyano, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—N(R⁸)S(O)₂R¹⁰ or —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(NR⁸)N(R⁸)₂; R³ is hydrogen or haloalkyl; each R⁴ is independently hydrogen, halo, alkyl or haloalkyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, alkyl, haloalkyl, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷— R⁸, —R⁷—OC(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—O—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—O—R⁹—OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)R¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰, —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2) and —R⁷—S(O)₂N(R⁸)₂; R⁶ is —N(R⁸)—, a direct bond, a straight or branched alkylene chain, a straight or branched alkenylene chain or a straight or branched alkynylene chain; each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl; each R⁹ is a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R¹⁰ is independently selected from alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; and R¹¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heterarylalkyl.

Of this subgroup of compounds, one embodiment is that class of compounds wherein Y is sulfur.

Of this class of compounds, one embodiment is that subclass of compounds wherein n is 1; m is 1 to 3; R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl; R² is hydrogen, cyano, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—N(R⁸)S(O)₂R¹⁰ or —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(NR⁸)N(R⁸)₂; R³ is haloalkyl; R⁴ is hydrogen; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, alkyl, haloalkyl, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—OC(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—O—R⁹—C(O)O R⁸, —R⁷—O—R⁹—OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)R¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰, —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2) and —R⁷—S(O)₂N(R⁸)₂; R⁶ is a direct bond, a straight or branched alkylene chain, a straight or branched alkenylene chain or a straight or branched alkynylene chain; each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; each R⁹ is a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R¹⁰ is independently selected from alkyl, aralkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; and R¹¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heterarylalkyl.

Of this subclass of compounds, one embodiment is that set of compounds wherein n is 1; m is 1 to 3; R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl; R² is cyano; R⁴ is hydrogen; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, alkyl, haloalkyl, —R⁷—OR⁸ and —R⁷—O—R⁹—OR⁸; R⁶ is a direct bond, a straight or branched ethylene chain, a straight or branched ethenylene chain or a straight or branched ethynylene chain; each R⁷ is a direct bond; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; and each R⁹ is a straight or branched ethylene chain.

Of this subclass of compounds, another embodiment is that set of compounds wherein n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl; R² is hydrogen, cyano, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—N(R⁸)S(O)₂R¹⁰ or —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(NR⁸)N(R⁸)₂; R³ is haloalkyl; R⁴ is hydrogen; when m is 1, R⁵ is hydrogen or —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2); or when m is 2, one R⁵ is —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2) or —R⁷—S(O)₂N(R⁸)₂ and the other R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, halo, haloalkyl and —R⁷—OR⁸; R⁶ is a direct bond; each R⁷ is independently a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; and R¹⁰ is alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or cycloalkylalkyl.

Of this subclass of compounds, another embodiment is that set of compounds wherein n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl; R² is cyano; R³ is haloalkyl; R⁴ is hydrogen; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, nitro, alkyl, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—OC(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—O—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)R¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸ and —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰; R⁶ is —N(H)— or a direct bond; each R⁷ is independently a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; each R⁹ is a straight or branched alkylene chain; R¹⁰ is alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; and R¹¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heterarylalkyl.

Of the subgroup of compounds set forth above for formula (III), another embodiment is that class of compounds wherein Y is oxygen.

Of this class of compound, one embodiment is that subclass of compounds wherein n is 1; m is 1 to 3; R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl; R² is cyano; R³ is haloalkyl; R⁴ is hydrogen; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, nitro, alkyl, haloalkyl, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—OC(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—O—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—O—R⁹—OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)R¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰ and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2); R⁶ is a direct bond; each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; each R⁹ is a straight or branched alkylene chain; R¹⁰ is alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; and R¹¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heterarylalkyl.

Of this subclass of compounds, one embodiment is that set of compounds wherein n is 1; m is 1 to 3; R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, alkyl, haloalkyl, —R⁷—OR⁸ and —R⁷—O—R⁹—OR⁸; R⁶ is a direct bond; each R⁷ is independently a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; and each R⁹ is a straight or branched ethylene chain.

Of this subclass of compounds, another embodiment is that set of compounds wherein n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl; R² is hydrogen, cyano, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—N(R⁸)S(O)₂R¹⁰ or —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(NR⁸)N(R⁸)₂; R³ is haloalkyl; R⁴ is hydrogen; when m is 1, R⁵ is hydrogen or —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2); or when m is 2, one R⁵ is —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2) and the other R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, haloalkyl and —R⁷—OR⁸; R⁶ is a direct bond; each R⁷ is a direct bond; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; and R¹⁰ is alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or cycloalkylalkyl.

Of this subclass of compounds, another embodiment is that set of compounds wherein n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl; R² is cyano; R³ is haloalkyl; R⁴ is hydrogen; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, nitro, alkyl, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷— R⁸, —R⁷—OC(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—O—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)R¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸ and —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰; R⁶ is a direct bond; each R⁷ is independently a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; each R⁹ is a straight or branched alkylene chain; R¹⁰ is alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; and R¹¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heterarylalkyl.

Another embodiment of the compounds of formula (I), as set forth above in the Summary of the Invention, is that group of compounds having the following formula (IV):

wherein n is 1 to 4; m is 1 to 4; R¹ is aralkyl; R² is cyano or —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂; R³ is haloalkyl;

is heterocyclyl or heteroaryl; each R⁴ is independently hydrogen, halo, alkyl or haloalkyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, alkyl, haloalkyl, —R⁷—CN and —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸; R⁶ is —O— or a direct bond; each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; and each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or aralkyl; as an isomer, a mixture of stereoisomers, a racemic mixture thereof of stereoisomers, or as a tautomer; or as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, solvate or polymorph thereof.

Of this group of compounds, one embodiment is that subgroup of compounds wherein R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl;

is a N-heteroaryl selected from the group consisting of indolyl and thiazolyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, alkyl, haloalkyl, —R⁷—CN and —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸; and R⁶ is a direct bond.

Of this group of compounds, another embodiment is that subgroup of compounds wherein R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl;

is a N-heteroaryl selected from the group consisting of indolyl, pyrimidyl, pyrazinyl, pyridinyl and thiazolyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, alkyl, haloalkyl, —R⁷—CN and —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸; and R⁶ is —O—.

Of this group of compounds, another embodiment is that subgroup of compounds wherein R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl;

is N-heterocyclyl selected from the group consisting of piperidinyl and piperazinyl; and each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, alkyl, haloalkyl, —R⁷—CN and —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸.

Of this group of compounds, another embodiment is that subgroup of compounds wherein R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl;

is benzodioxolyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, alkyl, haloalkyl, —R⁷—CN and —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸; and R⁶ is a direct bond.

Another embodiment of the compounds of formula (I), as set forth above in the Summary of the Invention, is that group of compounds having the following formula (V):

wherein n is 1 or 2; m is 1 to 4; Y is oxygen or sulfur; R¹ is aralkyl; R² is cyano or —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂; R³ is haloalkyl; each R⁴ is independently hydrogen, halo, alkyl or haloalkyl;

is naphthyl, heterocyclyl or heteroaryl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, halo, haloalkyl, heterocyclyl, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—OC(O)R¹⁰ and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2); R⁶ is a direct bond; each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond, a straight or branched alkylene chain or a straight or branched alkenylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl; R¹⁰ is alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; as an isomer, a mixture of stereoisomers, a racemic mixture thereof of stereoisomers, or as a tautomer; or as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, solvate or polymorph thereof.

Of this group of compounds, one embodiment is that subgroup of compounds wherein Y is —O—; R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl; R³ is haloalkyl;

is a N-heteroaryl selected from the group consisting of pyrimidinyl and pyridinyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, halo, haloalkyl, morpholinyl, piperazinyl, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸—R⁷—OC(O)R¹⁰ and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2); each R⁷ is independently a direct bond or a methylene chain; each R⁸ is hydrogen or alkyl; and R¹⁰ is alkyl or cycloalkylalkyl.

Of this group of compounds, another embodiment is that subgroup of compounds wherein Y is —O—; R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl; R³ is haloalkyl;

is heterocyclyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, halo, haloalkyl, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—OC(O)R¹⁰ and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2); each R⁷ is independently a direct bond or a methylene chain; each R⁸ is hydrogen or alkyl; and R¹⁰ is alkyl or cycloalkylalkyl.

Of this group of compounds, another embodiment is that subgroup of compounds wherein Y is —S—; R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl; R³ is haloalkyl;

is a N-heteroaryl selected from the group consisting of pyridinyl, indolyl and pyrimidinyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, halo, haloalkyl, morpholinyl, piperazinyl, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷— R⁸, —R⁷—C(O)R⁸, —R⁷—OC(O)R¹⁰ and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2); each R⁷ is independently a direct bond or a methylene chain; each R⁸ is hydrogen or alkyl; and R¹⁰ is alkyl or cycloalkylalkyl.

Of this group of compounds, another embodiment is that subgroup of compounds wherein Y is —S—; R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl; R³ is haloalkyl;

is heterocyclyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, halo, haloalkyl, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—OC(O)R¹⁰ and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2); each R⁷ is independently a direct bond or a methylene chain; each R⁸ is hydrogen or alkyl; and R¹⁰ is alkyl or cycloalkylalkyl.

Of this group of compounds, another embodiment is that subgroup of compounds wherein Y is —S—; R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl; R³ is haloalkyl;

is naphthyl; and each R⁵ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, halo or haloalkyl.

Another embodiment of the compounds of formula (I), as set forth above in the Summary of the Invention, is that group of compounds having the following formula (VI):

wherein n is 1 or 2; m is 1 to 4; R¹ is aralkyl; R² is cyano or —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂; R³ is haloalkyl; each R⁴ is independently hydrogen, halo, alkyl or haloalkyl;

is aryl or heteroaryl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, halo, haloalkyl, —R⁷—R⁸—R⁷—CN, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—OC(O)R¹⁰ and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2); R⁶ is a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond, a straight or branched alkylene chain or a straight or branched alkenylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl; and R¹⁰ is alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; as an isomer, a mixture of stereoisomers, a racemic mixture thereof of stereoisomers, or as a tautomer; or as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, solvate or polymorph thereof.

Of this group of compounds, one embodiment is that subgroup of compounds wherein R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl; and

is phenyl or pyridinyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—CN and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2); each R⁷ is a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R⁸ is hydrogen or alkyl; and R¹⁰ is alkyl.

Of this subgroup of compounds, one embodiment is that class of compounds wherein

is phenyl; and each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—CN and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2);

Of this subgroup of compounds, another embodiment is that class of compounds wherein m is 1 or 2;

is pyridinyl; and each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—CN and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2).

Specific embodiments of the various groups, subgroups, classes, subclasses, set and subsets of compounds of formula (I), as set forth above, are disclosed herein in the Examples set forth herein.

Preparation of the Compounds of the Invention

It is understood that in the following description, combinations of substituents and/or variables of the depicted formulae are permissible only if such contributions result in stable compounds.

It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in the processes described below the functional groups of intermediate compounds may need to be protected by suitable protecting groups. Such functional groups include hydroxy, amino, mercapto and carboxylic acid. Suitable protecting groups for hydroxy include trialkylsilyl or diarylalkylsilyl (e.g., t-butyldimethylsilyl, t-butyldiphenylsilyl or trimethylsilyl), tetrahydropyranyl, benzyl, and the like. Suitable protecting groups for 1,2-dihydroxys include ketal- and acetal-forming groups. Suitable protecting groups for amino, amidino and guanidino include t-butoxycarbonyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, and the like. Suitable protecting groups for mercapto include —C(O)—R (where R is alkyl, aryl or aralkyl), p-methoxybenzyl, trityl and the like. Suitable protecting groups for carboxylic acid include alkyl, aryl or aralkyl esters.

Protecting groups may be added or removed in accordance with standard techniques, which are well-known to those skilled in the art and as described herein.

The use of protecting groups is described in detail in Green, T. W. and P. G. M. Wutz, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis (1991), 2nd Ed., Wiley-Interscience. The protecting group may also be a polymer resin such as a Wang resin or a 2-chlorotrityl chloride resin.

It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art, although such protected derivatives of compounds of the invention, as described above in the Summary of the Invention, may not possess pharmacological activity as such, they may be administered to a mammal having a disease associated with defects in cholesterol transport, glucose metabolism, fatty acid metabolism and cholesterol metabolism, and thereafter metabolized in the body to form compounds of the invention which are pharmacologically active. Such derivatives may therefore be described as “prodrugs”. All prodrugs of compounds of the invention are included within the scope of the invention.

It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art would be able to make the compounds of the invention not specifically prepared herein in light of the following disclosure, including the Preparations and Examples, and information known to those of ordinary skill in the chemical synthesis field.

Starting materials in the synthesis examples provided herein are either available from commercial sources or via literature procedures or by methods disclosed herein. All commercially available compounds were used without further purification unless otherwise indicated. CDCl₃ (99.8% D, Cambridge Isotope Laboratories) was used in all experiments as indicated. ¹H NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker Avance 400 MHz NMR spectrometer. Significant peaks are tabulated and typically include: number of protons, multiplicity (s, singlet; d, double; t, triplet; q, quartet; m, multiplet; br s, broad singlet) and coupling constant(s) in Hertz. Chemical shifts are reported as parts per million (δ) relative to tetramethylsilane. Mass spectra were recorded on a Perkin-Elmer SCIEX HPLC/MS instrument using reverse-phase conditions (acetonitrile/water, 0.05% trifluoroacetic acid) and electrospray (ES) ionization. Abbreviations used in the examples below have their accepted meanings in the chemical literature. For example, CH₂Cl₂ (dichloromethane), C₆H₆ (benzene), TFA (trifluoroacetic acid), EtOAc (Ethyl Acetate), Et₂O (diethyl ether), DMAP (4-dimethylaminopyridine), DMF (N,N-dimethylformamide) and THF (tetrahydrofuran). Flash chromatography was performed using Merck Silica Gel 60 (230-400 mesh).

The compounds of the invention can be prepared according to the methods disclosed herein or by the methods disclosed in the parent application, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/327,813, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, or by methods known to one skilled in the art in view of the teachings of this disclosure and the afore-mentioned parent application.

Preparation of Compounds of the Invention

For purposes of illustration only, most of the formulae in the following Reaction Schemes are directed to specific embodiments of the compounds of invention. However, one of ordinary skill in the art, in view of the teachings of this specification and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/327,813 would reasonably be expected to be able to prepare all the compounds of the invention as set forth above in the Summary of the Invention utilizing the appropriately-substituted starting materials and methods known to one skilled in the art.

In the general descriptions immediately following each Reaction Scheme, the phrase “standard isolation procedures” is meant to include one or more of the following techniques familiar to one schooled in the art of organic chemistry: organic extraction, washing of organic solutions with dilute aqueous acid or base, use of drying agents, filtration, concentration in vacuo, followed by purification using distillation, crystallization, or solid-liquid phase chromatography. The phrase “elevated temperature” refers to a temperature above ambient temperature and the phrase “reduced temperature” refers to a temperature below ambient temperature.

A. Preparation of Compounds of Formula (B)

Compounds of formula (B) are starting materials in the preparation of the compounds of the invention and can be prepared according to methods known to one skilled in the art or by the method described below in Reaction Scheme 1, wherein X_(a) is bromo or iodo; m is 1 to 4; each R^(5a) is independently hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, alkyl, haloalkyl, —OR⁸, —N(R⁸)₂ or —S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where each R⁸ is as defined in the Summary of the Invention), and R^(10a) is alkyl, aryl or aralkyl:

1.

Compounds of formula (A) are commercially available or may be prepared according to methods disclosed herein or known to one skilled in the art or by methods disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/327,813.

In general, compounds of formula (B) are prepared by first reacting a solution of the arylhalides of formula (A) in an aprotic solvent at reduced temperature with a strong base in a metal-halogen exchange reaction to afford the organometallic reagent of formula (ZZ), which upon reaction with a source of elemental sulfur such as S₈, provides an intermediate arylthiol (not shown). Reaction of this arylthiol with an alkyl halide in the presence of a base provides the compound of formula (B) after isolation using standard procedures. In an alternate manner, the organometallic reagent of formula (ZZ) is reacted with various alkyl and aryl disulfides to give compounds of formula (B) using standard isolation procedures.

B. Preparation of Compounds of Formula (Ca)

Compounds of formula (Ca) are starting materials in the preparation of the compounds of the invention and can be prepared according to methods known to one skilled in the art or by the method described below in Reaction Scheme 2, wherein X_(a) is bromo or iodo; X_(b) is bromo, chloro or iodo; m is 1 to 4; each R is hydrogen or alkyl; each R^(5a) is independently hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, alkyl, haloalkyl or —OR⁸ (where R⁸ is as defined in the Summary of the Invention); and R^(10a) is alkyl, aryl or aralkyl:

Compounds of formula (D) are commercially available or may be prepared according to methods disclosed herein or known to one skilled in the art or by methods disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/327,813.

In general, compounds of formula (Ca) are prepared by first exposing an aniline of formula (D) to diazotization conditions to give the aryldiazonium salt of formula (E) which, upon exposure to a source of nucleophilic sulfur such as a xanthate salt at elevated temperature, provides the compound of formula (F) after standard isolation procedures. Hydrolysis of the compound of formula (F) under basic conditions and exposure to an alkylating agent in the presence of a base then provides a compound of formula (B) using standard isolation procedures. Conversion of the compound of formula (B) to the compound of formula (Ca) is accomplished by treating the compound of formula (B) in an aprotic solvent at reduced temperature with a strong base in a metal-halogen exchange followed by reaction of the intermediate organometallic reagent (not shown) with a trialkylborate. Alternatively, compounds of formula (B) are reacted with a diboronate or dioxaborolane reagent, such as pinacolborane in a palladium mediated coupling reaction, for example a Suzuki reaction, to give compound of formula (Ca) after standard isolation procedures.

C. Preparation of Compounds of Formula (Ka)

Compounds of formula (Ka) are starting materials in the preparation of the compounds of the invention and can be prepared according to methods known to one skilled in the art or by the method described below in Reaction Scheme 3, wherein X_(b) is bromo, chloro or iodo; m is 1 to 3; each R is hydrogen or alkyl; each R^(5b) is independently hydrogen, halo, alkyl, haloalkyl, cyano, —OR⁸, —N(R⁸)₂, —SR⁸, —C(O)OR⁸, —C(O)N(R⁸)₂; and R^(8a) is alkyl, aryl or aralkyl:

Compounds of formula (G) are commercially available or may be prepared according to methods disclosed herein or known to one skilled in the art or by methods disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/327,813.

In general, compounds of formula (Ka) are prepared by first reacting halopyridines of formula (G) with alcohols in the presence of base and at elevated temperature to give compounds of formula (H) after standard isolation procedures. In a subsequent step, exposure of compounds of formula (H) to a brominating agent provides halopyridines of formula (J) after standard isolation procedures. Conversion of compounds of formula (J) to compounds of formula (Ka) is then accomplished by treating the compounds of formula (J) in an aprotic solvent at reduced temperature with strong base in a metal-halogen exchange followed by reaction of the intermediate organometallic reagent (not shown) with a trialkylborate. Alternatively, compounds formula (J) are then reacted with a diboronate or dioxaborolane reagent such as pinacolborane in a palladium mediated coupling reaction, for example a Suzuki reaction, to give compounds of formula (Ka) after standard isolation procedures.

D. Preparation of Compounds of Formula (Kb)

Compounds of formula (Kb) are intermediates in the preparation of the compounds of the invention and can be prepared according to methods known to one skilled in the art or by the method described below in Reaction Scheme 4, wherein each X_(b) is bromo, chloro or iodo; m is 1 to 3; each R is hydrogen or alkyl; each R^(5b) is independently hydrogen, halo, alkyl, haloalkyl, cyano, —OR⁸, —N(R⁸)₂, —SR⁸, —C(O)OR⁸, —C(O)N(R⁸)₂; and R^(10a) is alkyl, aryl or aralkyl:

Compounds of formula (L) are commercially available or may be prepared according to methods disclosed herein or known to one skilled in the art or by methods disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/327,813.

In general, compounds of formula (Kb) are prepared by first reacting dihalopyridines of formula (L) with thiols in the presence of base and at elevated temperature to give sulfides of formula (M) after standard isolation procedures. Conversion of compounds of formula (M) to compounds of formula (Kb) is then accomplished by treating compounds of formula (M) in an aprotic solvent at reduced temperature with strong base in a metal-halogen exchange followed by reaction of the intermediate organometallic reagent with a trialkylborate. Alternatively, compounds (M) are reacted with a diboronate or dioxaborolane reagent such as pinacolborane in a palladium mediated coupling reaction, for example a Suzuki reaction, to give compounds of formula (Kb) after standard isolation procedures.

E. Preparation of Compounds of Formula (Cb)

Compounds of formula (Cb) are starting materials in the preparation of the compounds of the invention and can be prepared according to methods known to one skilled in the art or by the method described below in Reaction Scheme 5, wherein X_(a) is bromo or iodo; X_(b) is bromo, chloro or iodo; each m is 1 to 4; each R is hydrogen or alkyl; each R^(5c) is independently hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, alkyl, haloalkyl, —OR⁸, —N(R⁸)₂; and R^(8a) is alkyl, aryl or aralkyl:

Compounds of formula (A) are commercially available or may be prepared according to methods disclosed herein or known to one skilled in the art or by methods disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/327,813.

In general, compounds of formula (Cb) are prepared by first reacting aryldihalides of formula (A) with strong base in an aprotic solvent at reduced temperature in a metal-halogen exchange reaction followed by carbonylation of the intermediate organometallic reagent (not shown) to give the carboxylic acids of formula (N) after standard isolation procedures. Conversion of compounds of formula (N) to compounds of formula (P) is then accomplished using the Arndt-Eistert reaction sequence, namely, preparation of the acylchloride (not shown) using standard methods, generation of the intermediate diazoketone (not shown) by treatment of the acylchloride with diazomethane at reduced temperature, followed by exposure of the diazoketone to a silver-salt of an organic acid in the presence of an alcohol and isolation using standard procedures. Palladium mediated coupling of compounds of formula (P) with a diboronate or dioxaborolane reagent such as pinacolborane provides arylboronates of formula (Cb) after standard isolation procedures.

F. Preparation of Compounds of Formula (Pb)

Compounds of formula (Pb) are starting materials in the preparation of the compounds of the invention and can be prepared according to methods known to one skilled in the art or by the method described below in Reaction Scheme 6, wherein X_(a) is bromo or iodo; X_(b) is bromo, chloro or iodo; m is 1 to 4; each R is alkyl or aralkyl; each R^(5c) is independently hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, alkyl, haloalkyl, —OR⁸ or —N(R⁸)₂; R^(7a) is alkyl, aralkyl or fluoro, and R^(8a) is alkyl, aryl or aralkyl:

Compounds of formula (P) are commercially available or may be prepared according to methods disclosed herein or known to one skilled in the art or by methods disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/327,813.

In general, compounds of formula (Pb) are prepared by first treating compounds of formula (P) with a strong base in an aprotic solvent at reduced temperature followed by the addition of an alkylating or fluorinating agent to give compounds of formula (Pa). Reaction of compounds of formula (Pa) with additional base and subsequent treatment with a second portion of alkylating or fluorinating agent provides compounds of formula (Pb) after standard isolation procedures.

G. Alternate Preparation of Compounds of Formula (Cb)

Compounds of formula (Cb) are starting materials in the preparation of the compounds of the invention and can be prepared according to methods known to one skilled in the art or by the method described below in Reaction Scheme 7, wherein each m is 1 to 4; each R is hydrogen or alkyl; each R^(5d) is independently hydrogen, chloro, fluoro, alkyl, haloalkyl; and R^(8a) is alkyl, aryl or aralkyl:

Compounds of formula (Q) are commercially available or may be prepared according to methods disclosed herein or known to one skilled in the art or by methods disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/327,813.

In general, compounds of formula (Cb) are prepared by first reacting substituted methylbenzenes of formula (Q) under free radical conditions in the presence of a halogenating agent to give benzyl halides of formula (R) which, upon exposure to a cyanide source, afford benzyl cyanides of formula (S) after standard isolation procedures. Treatment of an alcoholic solution of benzyl cyanides of formula (S) in the presence of strong acid provides esters of formula (P) after standard isolation procedures. Palladium mediated coupling of compounds of formula (P) with a diboronate or dioxaborolane reagent such as pinacolborane provides arylboronates of formula (Cb) after standard isolation procedures.

Alternatively, compounds of formula (Cb) are prepared by reacting compounds of formula (Pa) or compounds of formula (Pb), as described above in Reaction Scheme 6, under similar conditions as described above in Step 3 of Reaction Scheme 7 to produce compounds of formula (Cb) wherein the —CH₂—C(O)OR^(8a) substituent is either —C(R^(7a))H—C(O)OR^(8a) or —C(R^(7a))₂—C(O)OR^(8a), respectively.

H. Preparation of Compounds of Formula (Ta)

Compounds of formula (Ta) are starting materials in the preparation of the compounds of the invention and can be prepared according to methods known to one skilled in the art or by the method described below in Reaction Scheme 8, wherein R is alkyl:

Compounds of formula (M) are commercially available or may be prepared according to methods disclosed herein or known to one skilled in the art or by methods disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/327,813.

In general, compounds of formula (Ta) are prepared by first reacting the arylhalide of formula (AA) with 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol in the presence of palladium and a copper(1) salt to give the alkyne of formula (BB) after standard isolation procedures. Exposure of alkyne of formula (BB) to strong base at elevated temperature affords the alkyne of formula (CC) which is then, under standard conditions of catalytic hydrogenation, converted to the nitrile of formula (DD) after standard isolation procedures. Reduction of the nitrile of formula (DD) with a metalhydride reagent provides the benzylamine of formula (EE) after standard isolation procedures. Conversion of the benzylamine of formula (EE) to the compound of formula (Ta) is then accomplished by either treating a solution of the benzylamine of formula (EE) with the acylchloride prepared from cyanoacetic acid under standard conditions, in the presence of a base, or by heating a solution of the benzylamine of formula (EE) with a cyanoacetic ester in the presence of a base such as N,N-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) to give the compounds of formula (Ta) after standard isolation procedures.

I. Preparation of Compounds of Formula (Ua)

Compounds of formula (Ua) are starting materials in the preparation of the compounds of the invention and can be prepared according to methods known to one skilled in the art or by the method described below in Reaction Scheme 9, wherein n is 1 to 4; each R is alkyl or aralkyl; R^(3a) is alkyl, aralkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl or heterocyclylalkyl; each R^(4a) is hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, alkyl or haloalkyl; and

is aryl or heteroaryl:

Compounds of formula (FF) and (GG) are commercially available or may be prepared according to methods disclosed herein or known to one skilled in the art or by methods disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/327,813.

In general, compounds of formula (Ua) are prepared by first treating the oxalate diesters of formula (FF) with an organometallic reagent, such as a Grignard reagent, in an aprotic solvent at reduced temperature to give the α-ketoesters of formula (GG) after standard isolation procedures. Treatment of the ketoesters of formula (GG) with a fluorinating agent, such as (diethylamino)sulfur trifluoride (DAST), affords the 2,2-difluoroesters of formula (HH) after standard isolation procedures. Reaction of 2,2-difluoroesters of formula (HH) with methylketones of formula (W) under Claisen condensation conditions provides the diketones of formula (Ua) after standard isolation procedures.

J. Preparation of Compounds of Formula (I)

Compounds of formula (Ia) are compounds of formula (I) wherein R⁶ is a direct bond and are prepared according to methods known to one skilled in the art or by the method described below in Reaction Scheme 10, wherein n, m, R¹, R², R³, R⁴ and R⁵ are as defined above in the Summary of the Invention, and

is aryl or heteroaryl and

is aryl or heteroaryl:

Compounds of formula (T) and (U) are commercially available or may be prepared according to methods disclosed herein or known to one skilled in the art or by methods disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/327,813.

In general, compounds of formula (Ia), which are compounds of formula (I), are prepared by first combining cyanoacetamides of formula (T) with diketones of formula (U) in the presence of base and at elevated temperature to give 2-pyridones of formula (V) after standard isolation procedures. Treatment of the pyridones of formula (V) with boronates of formula (C) under palladium-catalyzed coupling conditions (Suzuki reaction) provides the compounds of formula (Ia) after standard isolation procedures. Compounds of formula (Ia) can be further converted to various derivatives using general methods of organic chemistry known to those skilled in the art and/or by methods disclosed herein.

K. Preparation of Compounds of Formula (Ib)

Compounds of formula (Ib) are compounds of formula (I) wherein R⁶ is a direct bond and are prepared according to methods known to one skilled in the art or by the method described below in Reaction Scheme 11, wherein R is hydrogen or alkyl, X_(b) is bromo, chloro or iodo, and n, m, R¹, R², R³, R⁴ and R⁵ are as defined above in the Summary of the Invention, and

is aryl or heteroaryl and

is aryl or heteroaryl:

Compounds of formula (W) and (Ga) are commercially available or may be prepared according to methods disclosed herein or known to one skilled in the art or by methods disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/327,813.

In general, compounds of formula (Ib) are prepared by first, which are compounds of formula (I), are prepared by first treating compounds of formula (W) with a diboronate or dioxaborolane reagent such as pinacolborane under palladium mediated coupling conditions to give the boronates of formula (X) after standard isolation procedures. In a second palladium catalyzed coupling (Suzuki reaction), boronates of formula (X) are combined with halides of formula (Ga) to give methylketones of formula (Y) after standard isolation procedures. The reaction of esters of formula (NN) with methylketones of formula (Y) in the presence of strong base, for example, under Claisen condensation conditions, provides the diketones of formula (Z) after standard isolation procedures. The diketones of formula (Z) undergo a condensation reaction with amides of formula (T) in the presence of base and at elevated temperature to give the 2-pyridones of formula (Ib) after standard isolation procedures. Compounds of formula (Ib) can be further converted to various derivatives using general methods of organic chemistry known to those skilled in the art and/or by methods disclosed herein.

L. Preparation of Compounds of Formula (Ya)

Compounds of formula (Ya) are starting materials in the preparation of the compounds of the invention and can be prepared according to methods known to one skilled in the art or by the method described below in Reaction Scheme 12, wherein each X is halo; X_(a) is bromo or iodo; n is 1 or 2; R^(4c) is hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, alkyl or haloalkyl; m, R¹, R², R³, R⁴ and R⁵ are as defined above in the Summary of the Invention, and

is aryl or heteroaryl:

Compounds of formula (JJ), (Gc) and (LL) are commercially available or may be prepared according to methods disclosed herein or known to one skilled in the art or by methods disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/327,813.

In general, compounds of formula (Ya) are prepared by first reacting halopyrazoles of formula (JJ) with halides of formula (Gc) in the presence of base at elevated temperatures to give the pyrazole derivatives of formula (KK) after standard isolation procedures. Treatment of the pyrazole derivatives of formula (KK) with strong base in an aprotic solvent at reduced temperature under conditions of metal-halogen exchange gives the intermediate organometallic reagent (not shown), followed by the addition of an acylating agent effective at reduced temperatures, such as the compound of formula (LL), provides the pyrazolemethylketones of formula (Ya) after standard isolation procedures.

The following specific Preparations (for intermediates) and Examples (for compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use of the invention) are provided as a guide to assist in the practice of the invention, and are not intended as a limitation on the scope of the invention.

Preparation 1 Compounds of Formula (B)

1,3-Dibromo-5-ethyl-benzene (1.54 g, 5.8 mmoles) was dissolved into anhydrous THF (20 mL) under nitrogen, and was chilled to −78° C. To this stirring solution was slowly (over 10 min) added t-BuLi (3.8 mL, 6.5 mmoles, 1.7M solution in pentane). After the addition was complete the mixture was allowed to stir at −78° C. for an additional 30 min. After this period isopropyl disulfide (1.4 mL, 8.8 mmoles) was added and the mixture was allowed to warm to ambient temperature. The reaction was then warmed to 75° C., and was stirred at this temperature for 16 hours. After this period the reaction mix was evaporated in vacuo and was purified using flash silica chromatography (0-1% EtOAc/Hexane) to yield 1-bromo-3-ethyl-5-isopropylsulfanyl-benzene (1.08 g, 72%) as a clear liquid. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.34-7.32 (m, 1H), 7.19-7.17 (m, 1H), 7.13-7.11 (m, 1H), 3.39 (m, J=6.6 Hz, 1H), 2.59 (q, J=7.6 Hz, 2H), 1.30 (d, J=6.6 hz, 6H), 1.22 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 3H).

Preparation 2 Compounds of Formula (F)

3-Bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-phenylamine (4.0 mL, 28.3 mmoles) was dissolved into concentrated HCl (70 mL). This solution was chilled to 0° C. and to it was slowly added a solution of sodium nitrite (2.5 g, 36.2 mmoles) in 50 mL of water. After completion of the addition enough ethanol (90%) was added (25 mL) to affect nearly complete dissolution of the resultant mixture. The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for an additional 20 minutes. After this period the heterogeneous mixture was quickly transferred (cold) to an addition funnel. The diazonium mixture was added to a solution of O-ethylxanthic acid, potassium salt (5.7 g, 35.6 mmoles) in 50 mL of water at 60° C. The mixture was next heated to 90° C. and was stirred at this temperature for 2 hours. After this period the mixture was allowed to cool to ambient temperature, and the crude xanthate (a red liquid) was removed from the bottom of the aqueous mixture via pipette. The crude product taken up in 100 mL of diethyl ether and was washed with water (2×25 mL) and brine (20 mL). The ether layer was evaporated in vacuo to yield crude xanthate. The crude product was purified using flash silica chromatography (0-1% EtOAc/Hexane) to yield 4.7 g (51% yield) of dithiocarbonic acid S-(3-bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl) ester O-ethyl ester as a red liquid. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.83 (d, J=5.8 Hz, 2H), 7.71 (s, 1H), 4.63 (q, J=7.1 Hz, 2H), 1.36 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 3H).

Preparation 3 Compounds of Formula (B)

Dithiocarbonic acid S-(3-bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl) ester O-ethyl ester (3.3 g, 10.3 mmoles) was dissolved into 30 mL of EtOH, 10 mL of H₂O, and was sealed under nitrogen. To this stirring mixture was added KOH (2.8 g, 50 mmoles) and this mix was stirred at reflux (under nitrogen) for 12 hours. After this period the reaction mixture was evaporated in vacuo and combined with 50 mL of water. The pH was adjusted to <2 using 6N HCl and the resulting mixture was extracted with diethyl ether (3×50 mL). The combined ethereal layer was washed with brine and dried over anhydrous MgSO₄. Following evaporation in vacuo the crude thiol was dissolved into 50 mL of acetone. Ethyl bromide (1.5 mL, 20.1 mmoles) and K₂CO₃ (5 g, 36.2 mmoles) were added, and the mixture was stirring at ambient temperature (under nitrogen) for 6 hours. After this period the mixture was gravity filtered, and evaporated in vacuo to yield crude product. The crude product was purified using flash silica chromatography (0-1% EtOAc/Hexane) to yield 1-bromo-3-ethylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene (1.33 g, 45% yield) as a yellowish liquid. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.56 (s, 1H), 7.52 (s, 1H), 7.43 (s, 1H), 3.0 (q, J=7.3 Hz, 2H), 1.36 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 3H).

Preparation 4 Compounds of Formula (Ca)

1-Bromo-3-ethylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene (1.33 g, 4.7 mmoles) was placed into a 50 mL pear-shaped flask and was sealed under nitrogen. The material was then solubilized with 25 mL of anhydrous DMSO, and the resulting solution was degassed by passing a steady stream of nitrogen through the solution for 10 min. In a separate round-bottom flask were combined bis(pinacolato)diboron (1.3 g, 5.1 mmoles), [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]-dichloropalladium(II) complex with DCM (1:1) (0.11 g, 0.13 mmoles) and potassium acetate (1.4 g, 14.3 mmoles) with a stirring bar under nitrogen. Following degassification the bromide solution was transferred to the “catalytic” mixture and the resulting mix was stirred at 90° C. for 16 hours. After this period the reaction mix was combined with 100 mL of water and was extracted with benzene (4×30 mL). The combined benzene layer was washed with water (4×50 mL) and was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Following evaporation in vacuo the crude product was purified using flash silica chromatography (0-1% EtOAc/Hexane) to yield 2-(3-ethylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolane (651 mg, 41% yield) was a thick, clear liquid. Note: TLC visualization accomplished using ceric ammonium molybdate stain. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.89 (s, 1H), 7.83 (s, 1H), 7.60 (s, 1H), 3.01 (q, J=7.3 Hz, 2H), 1.35 (s, 12H), 1.33 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 3H).

Preparation 5 Compounds of Formula (H)

2-Chloro-3-trifluoromethyl-pyridine (4.43 g, 24.4 mmol) was dissolved in 42 ml 21% (wt.) sodium ethoxide in ethanol. The mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 1.5 days. After this period of time, the solvent was evaporated and the residue was taken into water and extracted with dichloromethane three times. The combined extract was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to give 2-ethoxy-3-trifluoromethyl-pyridine as a light liquid (3.42 g, 73% yield). The crude product was used directly for the next step. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 1.42 (t, 3H, J=7.07), 4.49 (q, 2H, J=7.07), 6.94 (dd, 1H, J=7.45, J=5.05), 7.85 (dd, 1H, J=1.26, J=7.45), 8.30 (dd, 1H, J=1.26, J=5.06).

Preparation 6 Compounds of Formula (J)

2-Ethoxy-3-trifluoromethyl-pyridine (900 mg, 4.71 mmol) and 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (1.35 g, 4.71 mmol) were placed in a round-bottom flask. To this mixture was slowly added 10 mL trifluoroacetic acid. The mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for overnight. More 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (540 mg, 1.9 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for another day. After the completion of the reaction, TFA solvent was evaporated in vacuo and the resulting residue was neutralized to pH 7 by the addition of saturated NaHCO₃. The aqueous layer was extracted with dichloromethane three times and the combined extract was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to give a mixture of oil and white solid. The residue was redissolved into 20% EtOAc/Hexane, and the unsoluable white solid was filtered out. The filtrate was concentrated and then purified by column chromatography on silica gel (10% EtOAC/Hexane) to give 5-bromo-2-ethoxy-3-trifluoromethyl-pyridine as a colorless liquid (1.0 g, 79% yield). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 1.41 (t, 3H, J=7.07), 4.46 (q, 2H, J=7.07), 7.94 (dd, 1H, J=0.51, J=2.53), 8.34 (dd, 1H, J=0.51, J=2.53).

Preparation 7 Compounds of Formula (Ka)

A. [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium (II) complex with dichloromethane (1:1), (286 mg, 0.35 mmol), potassium acetate (1.55 g, 15.8 mmol), and bis(pinacolato)diboron (1.3 g, 5.3 mmol) were placed into a vial and degassed with stream of nitrogen for 20 min. In a separate vial, 5-bromo-2-ethoxy-3-trifluoromethyl-pyridine (945 mg, 3.5 mmol) was dissolved in 7 ml anhydrous DMSO and degassed with stream of nitrogen for 20 min. The DMSO solution of 5-bromo-2-ethoxy-3-trifluoromethyl-pyridine was added to the “catalyst” vial, and then heated at 80° C. overnight. After cooling to ambient temperature, water and ethyl acetate were added to the reaction mixture and the aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined extract was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (10→30% EtOAC/Hexane) to give 2-ethoxy-5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)-3-trifluoromethyl-pyridine as solid (1.08 g, 97% yield). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 1.35 (s, 12H), 1.42 (t, 3H, J=7.07), 4.52 (q, 2H, J=7.07), 8.20 (d, 1H, J=1.01), 8.64 (d, 1H, J=1.26).

B. Alternatively, n-butyl lithium (1.6 M solution in hexane, 0.9 mL, 1.43 mmol) was slowly added to a solution of 5-bromo-2-ethoxy-3-trifluoromethyl-pyridine (352 mg, 1.3 mmol) in 2.6 mL anhydrous Et₂O at −78° C. under nitrogen. The mixture was kept at −78° C. for 1 hr, and then to this mixture was added triisopropyl borate (489 mg, 2.6 mmol). The mixture was allowed to warm to ambient temperature overnight. The reaction was quenched by water and the pH was adjusted to 5 by carefully addition of 1N aqueous HCl. Two layers were separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate three times. The extract was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to give 2-ethoxy-3-trifluoromethylpyridine-5-boronic acid as a brown oil (240 mg, 67% yield). The product was used for the next step without purification.

Preparation 8 Compounds of Formula (M)

A. 2,5-Dibromo-pyridine (3.0 g, 12.7 mmol) and sodium thiomethoxide (0.84 g, 12 mmol) were dissolved in 18 ml anhydrous N,N-dimethylformamide. The mixture was heated at 160° C. under nitrogen for 6 hrs. After cooling to ambient temperature, water and ethyl acetate were added to the reaction mixture. The aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate several times. The combined extract was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (0→6% EtOAC/Hexane) to give 5-bromo-2-methylsulfanyl-pyridine as a white solid (2.18 g, 84% yield). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 2.55 (s, 3H), 7.09 (dd, 1H, J=0.7, J=8.6), 7.59 (dd, 1H, J=2.4, J=8.6), 8.50 (m, 1H).

B. Alternatively, 2-bromo-5-nitro-pyridine (1.22 g, 6.0 mmoles), TMS-acetylene (0.9 mL, 6.4 mmoles), CuI (11 mg, 0.06 mmoles) and dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (II) (210 mg, 0.3 mmoles) were combined and flushed with dry nitrogen for 10 min. After this period the mix was solubilized with 24 mL of anhydrous triethylamine (degassed), and the mix was stirred at ambient temperature for 4 hours. After this period the reaction mix was evaporated in vacuo and purified directly using flash silica chromatography (0-10% EtOAc/Hexane) to yield 5-nitro-2-trimethylsilanylethynyl-pyridine as a brown solid. This material was dissolved into THF (10 mL) and to this solution was added 100 mg of TFAB (on silica gel, 1.0-1.5 mmole F/g resin). The solution was stirred at ambient temperature for 15 min. After this period the reaction mix was evaporated in vacuo purified directly using flash silica chromatography (0-20% EtOAc/Hexane) to yield 2-ethynyl-5-nitro-pyridine as a clear liquid. This product was combined with 10% Pd/C (90 mg) and ethanol (20 ml) and was flushed with dry nitrogen. After oxygen exclusion the stirring mix was flushed with H₂ and stirred under H₂ pressure (balloon) for 16 hours. After this period the reaction mixture was flushed with nitrogen and then filtered through Celite. The filtrate was evaporated in vacuo and purified using flash silica chromatography (0-10% MeOH/DCM w/0.1% diethylamine) to yield 6-ethyl-pyridin-3-ylamine (442 mg, 60%-3 steps) as a brownish residue. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.05-8.02 (m, 1H), 6.96-6.93 (m, 2H), 3.55 (br s, 2H), 2.71 (q, J=7.3 Hz, 2H), 1.25 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 3H).

C. 6-Ethyl-pyridin-3-ylamine (442 mg, 3.62 mmoles) was dissolved into 30 mL of MeOH and 3 mL of HOAc and the resulting solution was chilled to 0° C. To this stirring mixture was slowly added a solution of bromine (0.41 mL, 8.0 mmoles) in 5 mL of HOAc. The mix was then allowed to warm to ambient temperature and was stirred at this temperature for 16 hours. After this period the reaction mix was evaporated in vacuo, combined with saturated NaHCO₃ (15 mL), and extracted with DCM (3×20 mL). The DCM layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and was evaporated in vacuo to yield the crude product was a brownish solid. The crude product was purified using flash silica chromatography (0-10% EtOAc/Hexane) to yield 2,4-dibromo-6-ethyl-pyridin-3-ylamine (868 mg, 86%) as a brown solid. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 252-827.18 (s, 1H), 4.41 (br s, 2H), 2.68 (q, J=7.6 Hz, 2H), 1.24 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 3H).

D. 2,4-Dibromo-6-ethyl-pyridin-3-ylamine (105 mg, 0.38 mmoles) was combined with 80% sodium thioethoxide (50 mg, 0.48 mmoles) in anhydrous DMF (2 mL) and was stirred at 50° C. under nitrogen for 2 hours. After this period the reaction mix was combined with water (20 mL) and was extracted with EtOAc (3×20 mL). The combined EtOAc layer was washed with water (3×15 mL) and brine. After drying over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ the organic layer was evaporated in vacuo to yield crude product. The crude product was purified using flash silica chromatography (0-15% EtOAc/Hexane) to yield 4-bromo-6-ethyl-2-ethylsulfanyl-pyridin-3-ylamine (83 mg, 84%) as a clear residue. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 6.94 (s, 1H), 4.34 (br s, 2H), 2.95 (q, J=7.3 Hz, 2H), 2.68 (q, J=7.6 Hz, 2H), 1.33 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 3H), 1.24 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 3H).

E. 4-Bromo-6-ethyl-2-ethylsulfanyl-pyridin-3-ylamine (476 mg, 1.82 mmoles) was dissolved into EtOH (5 mL) and chilled to −10° C. under nitrogen. At −10° C. 48% wt. aq. HBF₄ (1.0 mL) was added and the temperature was further lowered to −25° C. At −25° C. isoamyl nitrite (0.256 mL, 1.9 mmoles) was slowly added (over 1 min), and the temperature was allowed to warm to −5° C. The reaction was stirred at −5° C. for 30 min. After this period the reaction mix was chilled to −25° C. and an excess of 50% aqueous H₃PO₂ (5.0 mL) was added. The mix was then allowed to warm to ambient temperature and was stirred at this temperature for 1 hour (vigorous bubbling is observed). After this period the reaction was combined with 40 mL of diethyl ether followed (carefully) by saturated NaHCO₃ (10 mL). The mix was then extracted with diethyl ether (2×20 mL) and the resultant ether layer was washed with brine. After drying over anhydrous MgSO₄ the ethereal layer was evaporated in vacuo to yield crude product. The crude product was purified using flash silica chromatography (0-10% EtOAc/Hexane) to yield 4-bromo-2-ethylsulfanyl-6-ethylpyridine (340 mg, 76%) as a golden-yellow liquid. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.09 (br d, J=1.3 Hz, 1H), 6.90 (br d, J=1.5 Hz, 1H), 3.0 (q, J=7.3 Hz, 2H), 2.73 (q, J=7.6 Hz, 2H), 1.39 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 3H), 1.27 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 3H).

Preparation 9 Compounds of Formula (Kb)

Palladium catalyst ([1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium (II) complex with dichloromethane (1:1), 167 mg, 0.21 mmol), potassium acetate (1.81 g, 18.5 mmol, Aldrich), and bis(pinacolato)diboron (1.56 g, 6.1 mmol) were placed into a vial and degassed with stream of nitrogen for 20 min. In a separate vial, 5-bromo-2-methylsulfanylpyridine (836 mg, 4.1 mmol) was dissolved in 8 ml anhydrous DMSO and degassed with stream of nitrogen for 20 min. The DMSO solution of 5-bromo-2-methylsulfanylpyridine was added to the “catalyst” vial, and then heated at 80° C. overnight. After cooling to ambient temperature, water and ethyl acetate were added to the reaction mixture. The aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (10→30% EtOAC/Hexane, 0.25% Et₃N in hexane) to give 2-methylsulfanyl-5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)pyridine as a colorless oil (1.00 g, 97% yield). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 1.35 (s, 12H), 2.58 (s, 3H), 7.16 (dd, 1H, J=1.0, J=8.0), 7.83 (dd, 1H, J=1.8, J=8.0), 8.50 (dd, 1H, J=1.7, J=1.0)

Preparation 10 Compounds of Formula (N)

1,3-Dibromo-5-isopropyl-benzene (1.57 g, 5.65 mmoles) was dissolved into anhydrous THF (50 mL) under nitrogen, and was chilled to −78° C. To this stirring solution was slowly (over 10 min) added t-BuLi (3.6 mL, 6.1 mmoles, 1.7M solution in pentane). After the addition was complete the mixture was allowed to stir at −78° C. for an additional 30 min. After this period CO₂ was bubbled through the stirring solution and the temperature was allowed to warm to ambient temperature. CO₂ bubbling was continued for 3 hours and afterwards the reaction was allowed to stir for an additional 6 hours. After this period 1H HCl (10 mL) was added and the mix was evaporated in vacuo (-THF). The resulting aqueous mixture was extracted with DCM (3×20 mL) and the organic layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Evaporation in vacuo yielded the crude carboxylic acid as a white solid. The crude acid (1.22 g, ˜5.0 mmoles) was dissolved into C₆H₆ (20 mL) and to this was added freshly distilled thionyl chloride (0.5 mL, 6.9 mmoles). This mixture was heated to reflux and stirred at this temperature for 16 hours. After this period the reaction mix was evaporated in vacuo to yield crude 3-bromo-5-isopropyl-benzoyl chloride (1.0 g, 68%-2 steps) as a yellow liquid. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.08 (t, J=1.8 Hz, 1H), 7.89-7.87 (m, 1H), 7.68-7.66 (m, 1H), 2.98 (m, J=6.8 Hz, 1H), 1.28 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 6H).

Preparation 11 Compounds of Formula (P)

A. Potassium Hydroxide (1 g) was added to an erlenmeyer flask containing water (40 mL) and diethyl ether (50 mL) at 0° C. The mixture was stirred to fully solubilize the hydroxide. 1-Methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine (2.24 g, 15.2 mmoles) was added to this flask in aliquots to generate a solution of diazomethane in ether. A separate erlenmeyer flask was chilled to −78° C. Ether from the diazomethane “generator” was transferred via pipette to this “cold” flask. When nearly all of the ether (diazomethane) had been transferred to the “cold” flask, a solution of 3-Bromo-5-isopropyl-benzoyl chloride (796 mg, 3.0 mmoles) in 10 mL of diethyl ether was added to the “cold” flask. The “cold” flask was then allowed to warm to 0° C. and was stirred at this temperature for 2 hrs. After this period the reaction mixture was thoroughly purged using nitrogen gas (bubbling). The resulting ether solution was evaporated in vacuo and the crude product was purified using flash silica chromatography (0-10% EtOAc/Hexane) to yield the intermediate diazoketone (696 mg, 86%) as a yellow solid. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.66 (br t, J=1.8 Hz, 1H), 7.57-7.55 (m, 1H), 7.54-7.52 (m, 1H), 5.86 (s, 1H), 2.94 (m, J=6.8 Hz, 1H), 1.26 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 6H).

B. The diazoketone (696 mg, 2.61 mmoles) was dissolved into MeOH (20 mL) and to this solution at ambient temperature was added a solution of AgOBz (340 mg, 1.49 mmoles) in NEt₃ (4.2 mL). This mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 30 min. After this period the reaction mix was filtered through Celite and evaporated in vacuo to yield crude product. The crude product was purified using flash silica chromatography (0-10% EtOAc/Hexane) to yield (3-bromo-5-isopropyl-phenyl)-acetic acid methyl ester (0.514 g, 62% —2 steps) as a yellow residue. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.28-7.25 (m, 2H), 7.06-7.04 (m, 1H), 3.71 (s, 3H), 3.57 (s, 2H), 2.86 (m, J=6.8 Hz, 1H), 1.23 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 6H).

Preparation 12 Compounds of Formula (Cb)

A. (3-Bromo-5-isopropyl-phenyl)-acetic acid methyl ester (0.514 g, 1.9 mmoles) was place into a 25 mL pear-shaped flask and was sealed under nitrogen. The material was then solubilized with 13 mL of anhydrous DMSO, and the resulting solution was degassed by passing a steady stream of nitrogen through the solution for 10 min. In a separate round-bottom flask were combined bis(pinacolato)diboron (0.58 g, 2.3 mmoles), [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]-dichloropalladium(II) complex with DCM (1:1) (50 mg, 0.061 mmoles) and potassium acetate (0.56 g, 5.7 mmoles) with a stirring bar under nitrogen. Following degassification the bromide solution was transferred to the “catalytic” mixture and the resulting mix was stirred at 90° C. for 16 hours. After this period the reaction mix was combined with 60 mL of water and was extracted with benzene (4×15 mL). The combined benzene layer was washed with water (4×25 mL) and was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Following evaporation in vacuo the crude product was purified using flash silica chromatography (0-10% EtOAc/Hexane) to yield [3-isopropyl-5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)-phenyl]-acetic acid methyl ester (502 mg, 83% yield) was a thick, greenish liquid. TLC visualization accomplished using ceric ammonium molybdate stain. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 269-167.58 (br s, 1H), 7.53 (br s, 1H), 7.26-7.23 (m, 1H), 3.68 (s, 3H), 3.62 (s, 2H), 2.91 (m, J=6.8 Hz, 1H), 1.34 (s, 12H), 1.25 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 6H).

B. Alternatively, a suspension of 2-(3-bromo-phenyl)-2-methyl-propionic acid methyl ester (755 mg, 2.9 mmol), and potassium acetate (880 mg, 8.9 mmol) was prepared in DMSO (15 mL). Nitrogen was bubbled through the suspension to deoxygenate the mixture. Bis(pinacolato)diboron (980 mg, 3.8 mmol) was added to the suspension, followed by dichloro[1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene)palladium (II) dichloromethane adduct (88 mg, 0.11 mmol). The mixture rapidly turned brown. The suspension was then immersed in an oil bath held at 80° C. After 20 minutes the nitrogen bubbling was discontinued. After stirring for 16 hours at 80° C., heating was discontinued, and the black reaction mixture was allowed to cool to ambient temperature. The reaction mixture was then diluted with H₂O (100 mL) and ether (100 mL). The aqueous layer was extracted with ether (4×20 mL), and the combined organic layers were washed with water (2×20 mL), brine (50 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford a brown oil. The oil was azeotroped with toluene to remove any residual H₂O. The crude material was purified by flash chromatography eluting with a gradient from 0% to 14% ethyl acetate/hexane to afford 2-methyl-2-[3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)-phenyl]-propionic acid methyl ester (790 mg, 88% yield) as a clear bluish oil. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.77 (1H, br s), 7.72-7.67 (1H, m), 7.43-7.39 (1H, m), 7.35-7.30 (1H, m), 3.65 (3H, s), 1.60 (6h, s), 1.34 (12H, s).

Preparation 13 Compounds of Formula (Pb)

A. A solution of (3-bromo-phenyl)-acetic acid (10.4 g, 48.5 mmol), in methanol (80 mL), was treated with trimethyl orthoformate (6.5 mL, 59.4 mmol). HCl gas was bubbled through the stirred solution for 10 minutes. The HCl addition was exothermic. After stirring for 15 minutes HPLC analysis of the solution showed complete conversion to product. After stirring for 16 hrs at ambient temperature the solution was diluted with toluene (100 mL) and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford a biphasic mixture. This liquid was diluted with toluene and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford (3-bromo-phenyl)-acetic acid methyl ester (11.2 g, quantitative yield) as a pale yellow liquid. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.46-7.38 (2H, m), 7.23-7.18 (2H, m), 3.71 (3H, m), 3.60 (2H, m).

B. Sodium hydride (2.5 g of a 60% suspension in mineral oil, 62 mmol) was placed in a flask under nitrogen. The suspension was washed with hexane (2×) then suspended in THF (30 mL), and DMF (30 mL), and cooled in an ice bath. To the cold suspension was added (3-bromo-phenyl)-acetic acid methyl ester (4.8 g, 21 mmol) dropwise as a solution in THF (10 mL). The ester containing flask was then rinsed with an additional portion of THF (10 mL) which was then added to the reaction to insure complete transfer. Iodomethane (4.0 mL, 64 mmol) was then added dropwise over several minutes. The iodomethane addition led to the formation of thick slurry at first, which slowly thinned as the reaction mixture was stirred. The ice bath was removed and the reaction was allowed to warm to ambient temperature. After stirring for 16 hrs at ambient temperature, HPLC analysis of a quenched aliquot (HOAc) showed several peaks present. There were several product peaks visible. The reaction was quenched by the addition of methanol (10 mL). The methanol addition did not lead to gas evolution. The reaction mixture was diluted with 1N HCl (70 mL), water (50 mL), and ether (200 mL). The aqueous layer was extracted with ether (4×50 mL), the combined organic layers were washed with brine (50 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford a brown liquid. The crude material was purified by flash chromatography eluting with a gradient from 0% to 10% ethyl acetate/hexane to afford 2-(3-bromo-phenyl)-2-methyl-propionic acid methyl ester (2.93 g, 54% yield) as a clear colorless oil. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.49-7.47 (1H, m), 7.39-7.36 (1H, m), 7.27-7.24 (1H, m), 7.22-7.17 (1H, m), 3.66 (3H, s), 1.56 (6H, s).

Preparation 14 Compounds of Formula (R)

4-Bromo-2-chloro-1-methyl-benzene (2.5 mL, 18.7 mmoles) and N-bromosuccinimide (4.0 g, 22.5 mmoles) were dissolved into 50 mL of CCl₄. To this stirring mix was added benzoyl peroxide (0.5 g, 2.1 mmoles) and the solution was irradiated using white light. Enough light intensity was utilized to affect gentle reflux for 2 hours. After this period the mixture was cooled to ambient temperature and benzoyl peroxide (0.5 g, 2.1 mmoles) was added. Again, the mix was irradiated to reflux for a period of 2 hours. After this period the reaction mix was chilled to ambient temperature and was gravity filtered. The filtrate was evaporated in vacuo and the resulting crude residue was purified using flash silica chromatography (0-1% EtOAc/Hexane) to yield 4-bromo-1-bromomethyl-2-chloro-benzene (3.04 g, 60%) as a clear liquid. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.57 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 7.39 (dd, J′=8.3 Hz, J″=1.8 Hz, 1H), 7.31 (d, J=8.1 Hz, 1H), 4.53 (s, 2H).

Preparation 15 Compounds of Formula (S)

4-Bromo-1-bromomethyl-2-chloro-benzene (3.04 g, 10.7 mmoles) was dissolved into anhydrous CH₃CN. To this mixture (under N₂ at ambient temp) was added TMSCN (2.1 mL, 15.7 mmoles) followed by 1.0M TBAF (15.7 mL, 15.7 mmoles, soln in THF). The resulting mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 15 min after which time it was evaporated in vacuo to yield crude residue. The crude residue was purified using flash silica chromatography (0-10% EtOAc/Hexane) to yield (4-bromo-2-chloro-phenyl)-acetonitrile (1.98 g, 80%) as an off-white solid. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.60 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 7.47 (dd, J′=8.1 Hz, J″=1.8 Hz, 1H), 7.39 (d, J=8.1 Hz, 1H), 3.79 (s, 2H).

Preparation 16 Compounds of Formula (P)

(4-Bromo-2-chloro-phenyl)-acetonitrile (1.98 g, 8.6 mmoles) was dissolved into MeOH (50 mL) and water (5 mL), and the resulting homogeneous mixture was chilled to 0° C. To this stirring (cold) mixture was slowly (carefully) added concentrated HCl (25 mL). After the addition was complete the mixture was refluxed for 16 hours. After this period the reaction mixture was combined with ice and the resulting heterogeneous mixture was extracted with diethyl ether (3×50 mL). The combined ethereal layer was washed with brine, dried over anhydrous MgSO₄, and evaporated in vacuo to yield clean (4-bromo-2-chloro-phenyl)-acetic acid methyl ester (2.3 g, 80%). ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.56 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 7.37 (dd, J′=8.3 Hz, J″=2.0 Hz, 1H), 7.16 (d, J=8.3 Hz, 1H), 3.73 (s, 2H), 3.72 (s, 3H).

Preparation 17 Compounds of Formula (Cb)

(4-Bromo-2-chloro-phenyl)-acetic acid methyl ester (705 mg, 2.68 mmoles) was place into a 25 mL pear-shaped flask and was sealed under nitrogen. The material was then solubilized with 20 mL of anhydrous DMSO, and the resulting solution was degassed by passing a steady stream of nitrogen through the solution for 10 min. In a separate round-bottom flask were combined bis(pinacolato)diboron (0.82 g, 3.2 mmoles), [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]-dichloropalladium(II) complex with DCM (1:1) (66 mg, 0.081 mmoles) and potassium acetate (0.79 g, 8.05 mmoles) with a stirring bar under nitrogen. Following degassification the bromide solution was transferred to the “catalytic” mixture and the resulting mix was stirred at 90° C. for 16 hours. After this period the reaction mix was combined with 60 mL of water and was extracted with benzene (4×15 mL). The combined benzene layer was washed with water (4×25 mL) and was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Following evaporation in vacuo the crude product was purified using flash silica chromatography (0-10% EtOAc/Hexane) to yield [2-chloro-4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)-phenyl]acetic acid methyl ester (502 mg, 83% yield) as a thick, clear residue. Note: TLC visualization accomplished using ceric ammonium molybdate stain. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.83-7.81 (br s, 1H), 7.65 (br d, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.29 (d, J=7.3 Hz, 1H), 3.80 (s, 2H), 3.70 (s, 3H), 1.34 (s, 12H).

Preparation 18 Compounds of Formula (BB)

A mixture of 4-bromo-2-fluoro-benzonitrile (2.6 g, 13 mmol), 10% palladium on carbon (300 mg), triphenylphosphine (300 mg, 1.2 mmol), CuI (108 mg, 0.57 mmol), and K₂CO₃ (4.55 g, 33 mmol), was prepared in 1,2-dimethoxyethane (20 mL), and H₂O (20 mL). The resulting suspension was stirred under nitrogen for 30 minutes, and was then treated with 2-methyl-but-3-yn-2-ol (2.6 mL, 27 mmol). The reaction was then heated in an 80° C. oil bath. After stirring for 15 hours at 80° C., TLC analysis of the reaction mixture showed some of the starting 4-bromo-2-fluoro-benzonitrile remaining. A small amount of PdCl₂ was then added in an attempt to drive the reaction to completion. After an additional 2 hr stirring at 80° C. the TLC had changed very little. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool to ambient temperature, and was filtered through a pad of Celite. The Celite pad was washed thoroughly with EtOAc, and the filtrate was diluted with EtOAc and H₂O. The layers were separated and the aqueous was extracted with EtOAc (2×50 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford a dark oil. The crude material was purified by flash chromatography eluting with a gradient from 10% to 40% ethyl acetate/hexane to afford 2-fluoro-4-(3-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-1-ynyl)-benzonitrile (2.60 g, 98% yield) as a yellow oil. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.58-7.53 (1H, m), 7.30-7.22 (2H, m), 2.10 (1H, s), 1.62 (6H, s).

Preparation 19 Compounds of Formula (CC)

To a solution of 2-fluoro-4-(3-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-1-ynyl)-benzonitrile (2.6 g, 13 mmol) in toluene (55 mL) was added NaH (53 mg of a 60% suspension in mineral oil, 1.3 mmol). The reaction mixture was heated to reflux. After refluxing for several hours, heating was discontinued, and the cooled reaction mixture was quenched by the addition of 2M Na₂CO₃ solution. The layers were separated and the toluene layer was washed with H₂O (2×20 mL), brine (25 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford the crude product. The crude material was purified by flash chromatography eluting with a gradient from 0% to 10% ethyl acetate/hexane to afford 4-ethynyl-2-fluoro-benzonitrile (1.25 g, 66% yield). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.61-7.57 (1H, m), 7.38-7.30 (2H, m), 3.36 (1H, s).

Preparation 20 Compounds of Formula (DD)

A solution of 4-ethynyl-2-fluoro-benzonitrile (1.29 g, 8.9 mmol) in EtOAc (30 mL) was placed in a Parr pressure bottle and palladium on carbon (130 mg of 10% on carbon) was added. The bottle was placed on the Parr hydrogenation apparatus and shaken under 10 psi of hydrogen pressure. After shaking for two hours the black suspension was filtered through a pad of Celite. The pad was washed thoroughly with EtOAc, and the combined filtrates were concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was taken up in toluene and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford 4-ethyl-2-fluoro-benzonitrile (1.19 g, 89% yield). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.55-7.50 (1H, m), 7.11-7.03 (2H, m), 2.72 (2H, q, J=7.6 Hz), 1.26 (3H, t, J=7.6 Hz).

Preparation 21 Compounds of Formula (EE)

A solution of 4-ethyl-2-fluoro-benzonitrile (1.19 g, 8.0 mmol) in ether (70 mL) was cooled in an ice bath. To the cold, stirred solution was added LiAlH₄ (600 mg, 16 mmol). The suspension was then heated to reflux. After several hours at reflux, the suspension was allowed to cool to ambient temperature and was quenched by the careful addition of H₂O (600 μL), followed by 15% aqueous NaOH (600 μL), and finally H₂O (1.8 mL). The resulting suspension was filtered, and the solids were washed thoroughly with ether. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to afford 4-ethyl-2-fluoro-benzylamine (1.16 g, 95% yield) as a liquid. This material was used for the subsequent amide formation without further purification. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.21 (1H, app t, J=7.6 Hz), 6.96-6.86 (2H, m), 3.85 (2H, s), 2.63 (2H, q, J=7.6 Hz), 1.22 (3H, t, J=7.6 Hz).

Preparation 22 Compounds of Formula (Ta)

Methyl cyanoacetate (1.16 mL, 13 mmol) and 4-ethyl-2-fluoro-benzylamine (1.15 g, 7.5 mmol) were combined in ethanol (20 mL). 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine (catalytic) was added and the reaction was heated in a 60° C. oil bath. After 16 hours heating, the reaction was concentrated under reduced pressure to afford crude product which was purified by flash chromatography eluting with a gradient from hexane to 60% ethyl acetate/hexane to afford 2-cyano-N-(4-ethyl-2-fluoro-benzyl)-acetamide (652 mg, 40% yield). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.26-7.20 (1H, m), 6.98-6.90 (2H, m), 6.39 (1h, br s), 4.49 (2H, d, J=5.8 Hz), 3.38 (2H, s), 2.64 (2H, q, J=7.6 Hz), 1.23 (3H, t, J=7.6 Hz).

Preparation 23 Compounds of Formula (GG)

A. Magnesium turnings (720 mg, 30 mmol) were suspended in THF (30 mL) in a 250 mL round bottom flask fitted with a thermometer. A solution of 1-bromohexane (3.2 mL, 23 mmol) in THF (10 mL) was prepared after first drying the 1-bromohexane by passing it through a pad of activated basic alumina. About 10% of the halide solution was added to the Mg suspension, followed by a small pellet of iodine. The addition of the iodine led to an increase in the reaction temperature indicating the initiation of the Grignard reagent formation. The remaining halide solution was added dropwise over ˜15 minutes. After the completion of the addition of the halide, the suspension was held at −55° C. to complete the formation of the Grignard reagent. While the Grignard reagent was forming, a suspension of dibenzyl oxalate (5.1 g, 19 mmol) was prepared in a mixture of ether (50 mL), and THF (15 mL). This suspension was cooled to <−70° C. (internal monitoring) and then treated with the Grignard solution prepared previously at a rate sufficient to keep the internal temperature below −70° C. After stirring for 3 hours at <−70° C., the reaction was quenched by the addition of saturated aqueous NH₄Cl, followed by addition of 1 N HCl (25 mL). The cold solution was then allowed to come to ambient temperature. After ˜64 hours the reaction mixture was diluted with ether and the layers were separated. The acidic aqueous layer was extracted with ether (2×50 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃, brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford a pale brown oil. The crude material was purified by flash chromatography eluting with a gradient from 0% to 30% ethyl acetate/hexane to afford 2-oxo-octanoic acid benzyl ester (3.43 g, 73% yield) as a pale yellow oil. The material was not completely pure by NMR analysis. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.42-7.33 (5H, m), 5.27 (2H, m), 2.82 (2H, t, J=7.3 Hz), 1.66-1.56 (2H, m), 1.35-1.23 (6H, m), 0.89-0.85 (3H, m).

B. A mixture of 2-oxobutyric acid (11.5 g, 113 mmol), and benzyl alcohol (14.0 mL, 135 mmol) in benzene (100 mL) was heated to reflux under a Dean-Stark water separator. After refluxing for 16 hrs ˜2 mL of water had collected in the trap (˜100% of theoretical). The reaction mixture was allowed to cool to ambient temperature, and then concentrated under reduced pressure to afford a pale yellow oil. The crude material was purified by flash chromatography eluting with a gradient from 0% to 15% ethyl acetate/hexane to afford 2-oxo-butyric acid benzyl ester (13.0 g, 60% yield) as a clear colorless oil. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.42-7.35 (5H, m), 5.28 (5H, s), 2.87 (2H, q, J=7.2 Hz), 1.12 (3H, t, J=7.2 Hz).

Preparation 24 Compounds of Formula (HH)

In a reaction vial under nitrogen, 2-oxo-butyric acid benzyl ester (12.4 g, 64.7 mmol) was treated dropwise with (diethylamino)sulfur trifluoride (10.5 mL, 79.5 mmol). The addition is exothermic and leads to a darkening of the reaction mixture. After standing at ambient temperature for ˜64 hours the reaction mixture was poured onto ice (˜100 g), and diluted with ether (250 mL). The layers were separated and the aqueous was extracted with ether (3×50 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with saturated NaHCO₃ solution, brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford a pale orange oil. The crude material was purified by flash chromatography eluting with a gradient from 0% to 20% ethyl acetate/hexane to afford 2,2-difluoro-butyric acid benzyl ester (13.0 g, 94% yield) as a pale yellow oil. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.39-7.37 (5H, m), 5.29 (2H, s), 2.09 (2H, t of q, J_(H-H)=7.6 Hz, J_(H-F)=16.7 Hz), 1.00 (3H, t, J=7.6 Hz).

Preparation 25 Compounds of Formula (Ua)

A solution of lithium hexamethyldisilazide (2.4 mL of a 1.0M solution in THF, 2.4 mmol) was diluted with THF (2 mL) and cooled in a −78° C. bath. To this cold solution was added 1-(4-bromo-furan-2-yl)-ethanone (317 mg, 1.68 mmol) dropwise as a solution in THF (4 mL), followed by a THF (1 mL) rinse of the vial and syringe to insure complete transfer. After ˜2 minutes the resulting red enolate solution was treated with a solution of 2,2-difluoro-butyric acid benzyl ester (357 mg, 1.67 mmol) in THF (4 mL), followed by a THF (1 mL) rinse of the vial and syringe to insure complete transfer. After the completion of the addition, the cooling bath was removed and the reaction was allowed to warm to ambient temperature. After stirring for 16 hrs at ambient temperature, the reaction was quenched by the addition of H₂O (10 mL), and diluted with ether (50 mL). Phosphoric acid (2M, aqueous) was added to the mixture to bring the pH below 3. The layers were separated and the aqueous was extracted with ether (3×20 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford a dark brown oil. The crude material was purified by flash chromatography eluting with a gradient from 0% to 30% ethyl acetate/hexane to afford 1-(4-bromo-furan-2-yl)-4,4-difluoro-hexane-1,3-dione (224 mg, 46% yield) as a red oil. The compound exists primarily in its' enolic form. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 14.77 (1H, br s), 7.62 (1H, s), 7.27 (2H, s), 6.45 (1H, s), 2.12 (2H, t of q, J_(H-H)=7.6 Hz, J_(H-F)=16.7 Hz), 1.05 (3H, t, J=7.6 Hz).

Preparation 26 Compounds of Formula (V)

To a solution of 1-(4-bromo-furan-2-yl)-4,4-difluoro-hexane-1,3-dione (220 mg, 0.75 mmol), and 2-cyano-N-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-acetamide (300 mg, 1.4 mmol) in benzene (4 mL) was added 1,8-diaza-bicycle-[5.4.0]-undec-7-ene (60 μL, 0.4 mmol). The red reaction mixture was then heated to reflux. After 3 hours, heating was discontinued and the reaction was allowed to cool to ambient temperature. After stirring at ambient temperature for 16 hours the reaction mixture was diluted with CH₂Cl₂ and purified by adsorbing the material onto silica gel, loading the resulting solid onto the column and eluting with a gradient from 0% to 30% ethyl acetate/hexane to afford 6-(4-bromo-furan-2-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-4-(1,1-difluoro-propyl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (188 mg, 54% yield) as a yellow oil. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.62 (1H, s), 7.1-7.03 (1H, m), 6.86-6.78 (2H, m), 6.76 (1H, s), 6.64 (1H, s), 5.46 (2H, s), 2.31 (2H, t of q, J_(H-H)=7.6 Hz, J_(H-F)=16.9 Hz), 1.11 (3H, t, J=7.6 Hz).

Preparation 26 Compounds of Formula (X)

Palladium catalyst ([1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium (II) complex with dichloromethane (1:1), 1.3 g, 1.59 mmol), potassium acetate (4.7 g, 47.7 mmol), and bis(pinacolato)diboron (6.05 g, 23.8 mmol) were placed into a flask and degassed with stream of N₂ for 20 min. In a separate flask, 1-(4-bromo-furan-2-yl)-ethanone (3.0 g, 15.9 mmol) was dissolved in 30 ml anhydrous DMSO and degassed with stream of N₂ for 20 min. The DMSO solution of 1-(4-bromo-furan-2-yl)-ethanone was added to the “catalyst” flask, and then heated at 80° C. overnight. After cooling to ambient temperature, water and ethyl acetate were added to the reaction mixture. The aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (10→30% EtOAC/Hexane, 0.25% Et₃N in hexane) to give 1-[4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)-furan-2-yl]-ethanone as a colorless oil (3.27 g, 87% yield). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 1.33 (s, 12H), 2.47 (s, 3H), 7.37 (d, 1H, J=0.60), 7.89 (d, 1H, J=0.68).

Preparation 27 Compounds of Formula (Ga)

To a solution of 4,6-dichloro-2-methylsulfanylpyrimidine (500 mg, 2.56 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (6 mL) was added sodium ethoxide (174 mg, 2.56 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at 70° C. for overnight. The resulting mixture was poured into 30 mL of water and was extracted with diethyl ether (20 mL×3) three times. The ether layer was separated and dried with anhydrous MgSO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to give crude product 4-chloro-6-ethoxy-2-methylsulfanylpyrimidine (525 mg). ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 6.39 (s, 1H), 4.43 (q, J=7.1 Hz, 2H), 2.54 (s, 3H), 1.38 (t, J=7.1H, 3H).

Preparation 28 Compounds of Formula (Y)

The crude product of Preparation 27, 4-chloro-6-ethoxy-2-methylsulfanylpyrimidine, (525 mg, 2.56 mmol) was dissolved in DMF (4 mL). To this solution was added 5-acetyl-2-thiopheneboronic acid (523 mg, 3.08 mmol), PdCl₂dppf (209 mg, 0.26 mmol), potassium carbonate (1.06 g, 7.69 mmol) and water (0.4 mL). The reaction mixture was heated at 80° C. under nitrogen atmosphere for overnight. The reaction mixture was cooled and poured into 30 mL of water and was then extracted with diethyl ether (20 mL×3) three times. The ether layer was separated and dried with anhydrous MgSO₄ and concentrated in vacuo. The resulting crude product was purified by flash silica column chromatography (20% ethyl acetate in hexane) to give product 1-[5-(6-ethoxy-2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-ethanone (210 mg, 28% yield over two steps). ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.67 (m, 2H), 6.68 (s, 1H), 4.46 (q, J=7.1 Hz, 2H), 2.60 (s, 3H), 2.59 (s, 3H), 1.40 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 3H).

Preparation 29 Compounds of Formula (Z)

A. 1-[5-(6-Ethoxy-2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-ethanone (210 mg, 0.71 mmol) was dissolved in anhydrous THF (7 mL) and cooled to −78° C. under nitrogen atmosphere. A solution of lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (0.71 mL, 1.0 M) in THF was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at −20° C. under nitrogen atmosphere for 1 h. The reaction mixture was then cooled to −78° C. To this reaction mixture was added ethyl trifluoroacetate (170 μL, 1.43 mmol). The vigorously stirred solution was allowed to warm to ambient temperature overnight. The reaction mixture was poured into 20 mL of ice and water and was brought to pH=3-4 by adding 10% HCl aqueous solution. The mixture was then extracted with diethyl ether (20 mL×3) three times. The ether layer was separated and dried with anhydrous MgSO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to give crude product 1-[5-(6-ethoxy-2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-4,4,4-trifluoro-butane-1,3-dione (272 mg, 98% yield). ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.81 (m, 1H), 7.68 (m, 1H), 6.70 (s, 1H), 6.47 (s, 1H), 4.47 (q, J=7.1 Hz, 2H), 2.61 (s, 3H), 1.41 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 3H).

B. Alternatively, lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (1.0M solution in THF, 1.1 mL, 1.1 mmol) was slowly added to a solution of 1-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-ethanone (240 mg, 0.94 mmol) in 2 mL anhydrous THF at −78° C. under nitrogen. The mixture was then allowed to warm to −20° C. and kept at −20° C. to −5° C. for 3 hrs. After this period of time the mixture was cooled to −78° C. and to it was added ethyl trifluoroacetate (200 mg, 0.41 mmol). The mixture was next allowed to warm to ambient temperature overnight. 1N aqueous HCl was carefully added to adjust the pH 2. Two layers were separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with chloroform three times. The extract was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to give 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-butane-1,3-dione as a yellow solid (290 mg, 88% yield). The product was used for the next step without purification. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 6.35 (s, 1H), 7.59 (dd, 1H, J=4.80, J=7.83), 8.21 (s, 1H), 8.28 (dd, 1H, J=1.77, J=3.80), 8.75 (dd, 1H, J=4.80, J=1.77), 8.76 (d, 1H, J=0.51)

Preparation 30 Compounds of Formula (KK)

Sodium hydride (60% dispersion in mineral oil, 243 mg, 6.07 mmol) was suspended in 4 mL anhydrous N,N-dimethylformamide. To this solution was added 4-iodo-1H-pyrazole (982 mg, 5.06 mmol) in 4 mL anhydrous N,N-dimethylformamide at 0° C. under nitrogen. The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 15 min, and then allowed to warm to ambient temperature and stirred at the same temperature for 2 hrs. After this period of time, a solution of 2-chloro-3-trifluoromethyl-pyridine (1.01 g, 5.56 mmol) in 4 mL N,N-dimethylformamide was added and the mixture was heated at 90° C. for 5 hrs. After cooling off, the mixture was poured into water and extracted with ethyl acetate three times. The combined extract was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to give 2-(4-iodo-pyrazol-1-yl)-3-trifluoromethyl-pyridine as a white solid (1.406 g, 74% yield). The product was used for the next step without purification. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.48 (dd, 1H, J=4.80, J=8.08), 7.79 (s, 1H), 8.21 (dd, 1H, J=1.52, J=8.08), 8.27 (s, 1H), 8.67 (dd, 1H, J=1.52, J=4.80).

Preparation 31 Compounds of Formula (Ya)

Isopropylmagnesium bromide (2.0M in Et₂₀, 1.11 ml, 2.22 mmol) was added slowly to a solution of 2-(4-iodo-pyrazol-1-yl)-3-trifluoromethyl-pyridine (627 mg, 1.85 mmol) in 3 mL anhydrous THF at 0° C. under nitrogen. The reaction mixture was stirred at the same temperature for 2 hrs, and then followed by the addition of N-methoxy-N-methyl-acetamide (286 mg, 2.78 mmol). The mixture was allowed to warm to ambient temperature overnight. Saturated ammonium chloride was added to quench the reaction. Two layers were separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined extract was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (25% EtOAC/Hexane) to give 1-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-ethanone as a white solid (277 mg, 59% yield). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 2.53 (s, 3H), 7.57 (dd, 1H, J=5.05, J=8.08), 8.18 (s, 1H), 8.27 (dd, 1H, J=1.52, J=8.08), 8.65 (s, 1H), 8.73 (d, 1H, J=4.03).

Example 1 Compounds of Formula (Ia)

A. To a solution of 6-(4-bromo-furan-2-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-4-(1,1-difluoro-propyl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (75 mg, 160 μmol) and 2-(3-ethylsulfanyl-5-isopropyl-phenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolane (73 mg, 240 μmol) in 1,2-dimethoxyethane (2.0 mL) was added K₂CO₃ (68 mg, 490 μmol) and H₂O (200 μL). Dichloro[1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene)palladium (II) dichloromethane adduct (11 mg, 15 μmol, ˜9 mol %) was added and the resulting dark mixture was sparged with nitrogen for ˜5 minutes. The reaction vial was sealed with a septum that had been pierced with a needle to allow for pressure release, and immersed in an oil bath heated to 80° C. After 5½ hours stirring at 80° C., heating was discontinued and the reaction was allowed to stir at ambient temperature for 16 hrs. The reaction mixture was then diluted with ether and H₂O, the layers were separated, and the aqueous was extracted with ether (3×20 mL). The combined ether layers were washed with brine (20 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford a dark oil. The crude product was purified by silica gel column chromatography by adsorbing the material onto silica gel from a CH₂Cl₂ solution, loading the resulting solid onto the column and eluting with a gradient from 0% to 20% ethyl acetate/hexane to afford 1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-4-(1,1-difluoro-propyl)-6-[4-(3-ethylsulfanyl-5-isopropyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (40 mg, 44% yield) as a brown foam. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.85 (1H, d, J=0.8 Hz), 7.18-7.15 (2H, m), 7.12-7.03 (2H, m), 7.00 (1H, d, J=0.8 Hz), 6.87-6.79 (2H, m), 6.76 (1H, s), 5.56 (2H, s), 2.98 (2H, q, J=7.3 Hz), 2.90 (1H, heptet, J=7.1 Hz), 2.34 (2H, t of q, J_(H-H)=7.6 Hz, J_(H-F)=16.9 Hz), 1.34 (3H, t, J=7.3 Hz), 1.27 (6H, d, J=7.1 Hz), 1.13 (3H, t, J=7.3 Hz).

B. Alternatively, to 6-(5-bromo-thiophen-2-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (134 mg, 0.28 mmol) was added 2-methyl-2-[3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)-phenyl]-propionic acid methyl ester (1.2 mL of a 0.47 M solution in 1,2-dimethoxyethane, 0.56 mmol). The mixture was diluted with 1,2-dimethoxyethane (1.6 mL) and nitrogen was bubbled through the solution as an aqueous solution of K₂CO₃ (0.3 mL of a 35% w/v solution in H₂O, 0.8 mmol) was added. The addition of the K₂CO₃ solution caused the reaction mixture to turn dark. The mixture was then treated with dichloro[1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene)palladium (II) dichloromethane adduct (21 mg, 26 μmol). After several minutes the nitrogen sparge was discontinued, and the vial was immersed in an oil bath held at 80° C. After stirring for 16 hours the dark reaction was allowed to cool to ambient temperature, and diluted with ether (30 mL), and H₂O (10 mL). The aqueous layer was extracted with ether (1×10 ml), the combined organic layers were washed with brine (10 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to afford a dark oil. The crude material was purified by flash chromatography eluting with a gradient from 0% to 20% ethyl acetate/hexane to afford 2-(3-{5-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-phenyl)-2-methyl-propionic acid methyl ester (72 mg, 45% yield) as an orange-yellow oil. This material was not completely pure and was further purified by preparative reverse phase LC/MS chromatography on a C-18 column. The desired fraction was collected by mass and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford 2-(3-{5-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-phenyl)-2-methyl-propionic acid methyl ester (26 mg, 17% yield) as a yellow powder. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.52-7.50 (1H, m), 7.46-7.35 (3H, m), 7.29-7.26 (1H, m), 7.12-7.05 (2H, m), 6.91-6.79 (2H, m), 6.67 (1H, s), 5.46 (2H, s), 3.68 (3H, s), 1.62 (6H, s).

C. Alternatively, to 6-(4-bromo-furan-2-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (185 mg, 0.40 mmol) was added 2-methyl-2-[3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)-phenyl]propionic acid methyl ester (1.7 mL of a 0.47 M solution in 1,2-dimethoxyethane, 0.8 mmol). The mixture was diluted with 1,2-dimethoxyethane (2.3 mL) and nitrogen was bubbled through the solution as an aqueous solution of K₂CO₃ (0.4 mL of a 35% w/v solution in H₂O, 1.0 mmol) was added. The addition of the K₂CO₃ solution caused the reaction mixture to turn dark. The mixture was then treated with dichloro[1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene)palladium (II) dichloromethane adduct (33 mg, 40 μmol). After several minutes the nitrogen sparge was discontinued, and the vial was immersed in an oil bath held at 80° C. After stirring for 16 hours the dark reaction was allowed to cool to ambient temperature, and diluted with ether (30 mL), and H₂O (10 mL). The aqueous layer was extracted with ether (1×10 ml), the combined organic layers were washed with brine (10 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to afford a dark oil. The crude material was purified by flash chromatography eluting with a gradient from 0% to 20% ethyl acetate/hexane to afford bright yellow product containing fractions from the column. Some of these fractions deposited yellow crystals upon standing. The crystals were collected and found to be pure 2-(3-{5-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-3-yl}-phenyl)-2-methyl-propionic acid methyl ester (74 mg, 33% yield). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.89 (1H, br s), 7.41-7.28 (4H, m), 7.11-7.05 (2H, m), 6.91-6.82 (3H, m), 5.60 (2H, s), 3.67 (3H, s), 1.61 (6H, s).

D. 6-(5-Bromo-thiophen-2-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (270 mg, 0.57 mmol), 2-methylsulfanyl-5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)pyridine (214 mg, 0.85 mmol), potassium carbonate (236 mg, 1.71 mmol), and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0) (66 mg, 0.057 mmol) were mixed with 6 ml 9:1 DME/H₂O (v/v), then heated at 80° C. overnight. All solvent was removed in vacuo. The crude product was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (10→40% EtOAC/Hexane, 0.25% Et₃N in hexane) to give 1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-methylsulfanyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile as an orange solid (276 mg, 93% yield). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 2.61 (s, 3H), 5.45 (s, 2H), 6.66 (s, 1H), 6.82 (m, 1H), 6.88 (m, 1H), 7.09 (m, 1H), 7.12 (d, 1H, J=3.9), 7.27 (m, 2H, mixed with CDCl₃), 7.64 (dd, 1H, J=2.4, J=8.4), 8.67 (dd, 1H, J=2.4, J=0.8).

E. 6-(4-Bromo-furan-2-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (98 mg, 0.22 mmol), 2-ethoxy-5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)-3-trifluoromethyl-pyridine (125 mg, 0.54 mmol) (or corresponding 2-ethoxy-3-trifluoromethylpyridine-5-boronic acid), potassium carbonate (149 mg, 1.08 mmol), and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0) (25 mg, 0.1 mmol) were mixed with 2.5 ml 9:1 DME/H₂O (v/v), then heated at 80° C. overnight. All solvent was removed in vacuo. The crude product was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (10→30% EtOAC/Hexane, 0.25% Et₃N in hexane) to give 1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-ethoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-3-yl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile as a yellow solid (29 mg, 37% yield). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 1.45 (t, 3H, J=7.07), 4.53 (q, 2H, J=7.07), 5.58 (s, 2H), 6.83 (s, 1H), 6.84 (m, 1H), 6.87 (m, 1H), 7.04 (d, 1H, J=0.76), 7.13 (m, 1H), 7.87 (d, 1H, J=2.27), 7.90 (d, 1H, J=0.76), 8.38 (d, 1H, J=2.27).

F. 6-(4-Bromo-thiophen-2-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile 620 mg, 1.3 mmoles), [3-(4,4,5,5-Tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)-phenyl]-acetic acid methyl ester (520 mg, 1.95 mmoles), [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]-dichloropalladium(II) complex with DCM (1:1) (32 mg, 0.39 mmoles), and K₂CO₃ (540 mg, 3.91 mmoles) were combined in 6 ml of DME/H₂O (9:1, degassed), and were stirred at 85° C. for 5 hours. After this period the reaction mix was evaporated and purified using flash silica chromatography (0-30% EtOAc/Hexane) to yield (3-{5-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-phenyl)-acetic acid methyl ester (365 mg, 52%) as a yellow solid. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.64 (br d, J=1.3 Hz, 1H), 7.39-7.35 (m, 2H), 7.33 (br d, J=1.3 Hz, 1H), 7.14-7.07 (m, 1H), 6.92-6.85 (m, 1H), 6.84-6.77 (m, 1H), 6.65 (s, 1H), 5.44 (s, 2H), 3.72 (s, 3H), 3.67 (s, 2H). MS (ES+): 545.3 (M+H).

Example 2 Compounds of Formula (Ia) and Oxidation

A. 6-(5-Bromo-furan-2-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (310 mg, 0.7 mmoles), 2-(3-Ethylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolane (287 mg, 0.86 mmoles), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0) (81 mg, 0.07 mmoles), K₂CO₃ (450 mg, 3.3 mmoles) were combined in 12 ml of DME/H₂O (9:1, degassed), and were stirred at 85° C. for 16 hours. After this period the reaction mix was evaporated and purified using flash silica chromatography (0-20% EtOAc/Hexane) to yield 1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-ethylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (0.23 g, 55%) as a yellow residue.

B. 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-ethylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (0.23 g, 0.39 mmoles) was dissolved into 50 mL of DCM. To this solution at 0° C. was added 60% active m-chloroperbenzoic acid (250 mg, ˜2.25 equiv.). The mix was allowed to warm to ambient temperature and was stirred at this temperature for 30 min. After this period an additional 50 mL of DCM was added and this mix was washed with 1N Na₂CO₃ (4×20 mL) and brine. The resulting DCM layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and was evaporated in vacuo to yield the crude product. The crude product was purified using flash silica chromatography (0-40% EtOAc/Hexane) to yield 1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (205 mg, 86% yield) as a yellow solid. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.26 (s, 1H), 8.12 (s, 1H), 7.91 (s, 1H), 7.14-7.07 (m, 1H), 7.06 (d, J=3.8 Hz, 1H), 6.98 (d, J=3.8 Hz, 1H), 6.92-6.85 (m, 1H), 6.84-6.77 (m, 1H), 6.81 (s, 1H), 5.53 (s, 2H), 3.19 (q, J=7.3 Hz, 2H), 1.35 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 3H). MS (ES+): 617.1.

Example 3 Hydrolysis of Compounds of Formula (I)

A. (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-phenyl)-acetic acid methyl ester (0.988 g, 1.81 mmoles) was dissolved into THF (20 mL) and water (6 mL). To this homogeneous mixture was then added LiOH hydrate (152 mg, 3.62 mmoles). This mix was then stirred at 30° C. for 2 hours. After this period the reaction mixture was acidified to pH ˜3 using 1H HCl and was evaporated in vacuo. The resulting residue was extracted with DCM (3×15 mL) and the resulting organic layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and evaporated in vacuo to yield crude product. The crude product was purified using flash silica chromatography (0-5% MeOH/DCM) to yield (3-{5-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-phenyl)-acetic acid (625 mg, 65%) as a yellow solid. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.64 (br d, J=1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.41-7.38 (m, 2H), 7.32-7.30 (m, 1H), 7.13-7.06 (m, 1H), 6.90-6.84 (m, 1H), 6.82-6.75 (m, 1H), 6.64 (s, 1H), 5.43 (s, 2H), 3.70 (s, 2H). MS (ES+): 531.1 (M+H).

Example 4 Compounds of Formula (Ib)

A. 1-[5-(6-Ethoxy-2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-4,4,4-trifluoro-butane-1,3-dione (128 mg, 0.32 mmol) and 2,4-difluorobenzyl cyanoacetamide (82 mg, 0.39 mmol) were suspended in 2 mL of benzene. To the above reaction mixture was added DBU (24 μL, 0.16 mmol). The mixture was sealed in a vial and stirred at 90° C. for overnight. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and the resulting residue was purified by flash silica column chromatography (30% ethyl acetate in hexane) to yield product 1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-ethoxy-2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydropyridine-3-carbonitrile (70 mg, 38% yield). ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ7.57 (m, 1H), 7.10 (m, 1H), 7.09 (m, 1H), 6.87 (m, 1H), 6.79 (m, 1H), 6.65 (s, 1H), 6.64 (s, 1H), 5.41 (s, 2H), 4.47 (q, J=7.1 Hz, 2H), 2.55 (s, 3H), 1.41 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 3H).

B. 4,4,4-Trifluoro-1-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-butane-1,3-dione (143 mg, 0.41 mmol) and 2-cyano-N-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-acetamide (86 mg, 0.41 mmol) were suspended in 1.5 mL anhydrous benzene. To the above reaction mixture was added 1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]undec-7-ene (DBU (31 mg, 0.21 mmol). The mixture was heated at 90° C. under nitrogen atmosphere for overnight. After this period of time, the mixture was evaporated in vacuo and the resulting residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (35% EtOAC/Hexane) to give 1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-6-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile as a yellow solid (78 mg, 36% yield). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 5.42 (s, 2H), 6.61 (s, 1H), 6.82 (m, 1H), 6.89 (m, 1H), 7.12 (m, 1H), 7.58 (dd, 1H, J=4.80, J=8.08), 7.73 (s, 1H), 8.28 (dd, 1H, J=1.77, J=8.08), 8.32 (s, 1H), 8.72 (dd, 1H, J=1.77, J=4.80).

Example 5 Oxidation of Compounds of Formula (I)

A. A solution of 1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-4-(1,1-difluoro-propyl)-6-[4-(3-ethylsulfanyl-5-isopropyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (39 mg, 69 μmol) in CH₂Cl₂ was cooled in an ice bath and treated with 3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (45 mg of 77% pure material, ˜200 μmol). After several minutes stirring at 0° C., the ice bath was removed and after an additional 15 minutes, TLC analysis of the reaction mixture showed the starting sulfide to be gone, and the appearance of a single product spot. The reaction mixture was quenched by the addition of 10% sodium thiosulfate solution and diluted with CH₂Cl₂ (50 mL). Saturated NaHCO₃ was added to bring the pH >8. The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford a yellow film. The crude product was purified by silica gel column chromatography by adsorbing the material onto silica gel from a CH₂Cl₂ solution, loading the resulting solid onto the column and eluting with a gradient from 30% to 50% ethyl acetate/hexane to afford 1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-4-(1,1-difluoro-propyl)-6-[4-(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-isopropyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (39 mg, 94% yield) as a yellow foam. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.94 (1H, s), 7.78-7.77 (1H, m), 7.72-7.71 (1H, m), 7.53-7.51 (1H, m), 7.17-7.10 (1H, m), 7.07 (1H, s), 6.87-6.80 (2H, m), 6.74 (1H, s), 5.55 (2H, s), 3.15 (2H, q, J=7.6 Hz), 3.10-2.99 (1H, m), 2.42-2.27 (2H, m), 1.35-1.30 (9H, m), 1.14 (3H, t, J=7.6 Hz).

B. 1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-4-(1,1-difluoro-propyl)-6-[4-(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-isopropyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (254 mg, 0.49 mmol) was dissolved in 5 ml mixed solvent of 5:1 DCM/MeOH (v/v), and magnesium monoperoxyphthalate hydrate (MMPP, 85% tech., 627 mg, 1.08 mmol) was slowly added portionwise. The reaction was complete at ambient temperature after 3 hrs. DCM was added to the reaction mixture, and the white precipitate was filtered and thoroughly washed with DCM. The combined organic layers were washed with saturated NaHCO₃, brine, and dried over sodium sulfate. After concentration in vacuo, the crude product was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (15→50% EtOAC/Hexane, 0.25% Et₃N in hexane) to give 1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-methylsulfonyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile as a yellow solid (154 mg, 60% yield). ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 3.28 (s, 3H), 5.43 (s, 2H), 6.66 (s, 1H), 6.81 (m, 1H), 6.90 (m, 1H), 7.14 (m, 1H), 7.19 (d, 1H, J=3.9), 7.48 (d, 1H, J=3.9), 8.10 (dd, 1H, J=2.2, J=8.2), 8.17 (dd, 1H, J=0.7, J=8.2), 8.93 (dd, 1H, J=2.2, J=0.7).

C. 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-ethoxy-2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydropyridine-3-carbonitrile (49 mg, 0.087 mmol) was dissolved in a mixture of dichloromethane (2 mL) and methanol (0.4 mL). To this solution was added magnesium monoperoxyphthalate hexahydrate, MMPP, (108 mg, 0.218 mmol, 80% tech.) and the mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for overnight. After this period the reaction mixture was combined with dichloromethene (20 mL) and was washed with 1M NaHCO₃ (2×10 mL), and brine (10 mL). The resulting organic layer was separated and dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and evaporated in vacuo to yield crude product. The crude product was purified using flash silica chromatography (25-50% EtOAc/Hexane) to yield 1-(2,4-difluorobenzyl)-6-[5-(6-ethoxy-2-methanesulfonyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (42 mg, 80%) as a yellow solid. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.72 (m, 1H), 7.14 (m, 1H), 7.13 (m, 1H), 7.07 (s, 1H), 6.88 (m, 1H), 6.78 (m, 1H), 6.63 (s, 1H), 5.40 (s, 2H), 4.61 (q, J=7.1 Hz, 2H), 3.36 (s, 3H), 1.46 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 3H). MS (ES+): 597.2 (M+H).

Example 6

Following the procedures set forth above in the foregoing preparations and examples and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/327,813, the following compounds of the invention were prepared:

-   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-isopropyl-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 531.3 (M+H); -   6-[4-(4-tert-Butyl-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 545.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-fluoro-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 507.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(2,4-dimethyl-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 517.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(2,5-dimethyl-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 517.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(2,6-dimethyl-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 517.4 (M+H); -   6-[4-(2-Chloro-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 523.1 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-Chloro-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 523.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[3-methyl-4-(2-trifluoromethyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 557.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[3-methyl-4-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 557.4 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-Bromo-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 553.3 (M+H); -   6-[4-(4-Bromo-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 555.2 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-Benzyloxy-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 581.5 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(2,4-dimethyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 503.2 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 611.4 (M+H); -   6-(4-Benzyloxy-phenyl)-1-(2,4-dichloro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 529.0 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(4-phenoxy-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 515.0 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(4-phenoxy-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 483.0 (M+H); -   1-(2-Chloro-4-fluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(4-phenoxy-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 499.2 (M+H); -   6-(4-Benzyloxy-phenyl)-1-(2-chloro-4-fluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 513.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-pentafluoroethyl-6-(4-phenoxy-phenyl)-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 564.9 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-(3-isopropyl-4-phenoxy-phenyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 517.5 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-(3-isopropyl-4-o-tolyloxy-phenyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 531.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(2-ethyl-phenoxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 545.5 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(2,5-dimethyl-phenoxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 545.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(2,4-dimethyl-phenoxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 545.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(3,4-dimethyl-phenoxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 545.5 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-(3-isopropyl-4-m-tolyloxy-phenyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 531.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[3-isopropyl-4-(3-isopropyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 559.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[3-isopropyl-4-(4-isopropyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 559.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-(3-isopropyl-4-p-tolyloxy-phenyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 531.3 (M+H); -   6-[4-(4-tert-Butyl-phenoxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 573.6 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[3-isopropyl-4-(4-vinyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 543.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-ethyl-2-methyl-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 531.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-ethyl-2-methyl-phenoxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 559.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(2-ethyl-4-methyl-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 531.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(2-ethyl-4-methyl-phenoxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 559.4 (M+H); -   6-(4-Benzyloxy-3-chloro-phenyl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 531.1 (M+H); -   6-[3-Chloro-4-(4-fluoro-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 535.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-fluoro-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-[4-(4-Dimethylamino-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 532.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-methoxy-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 519.3 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-Cyano-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 514.4 (M+H); -   6-[4-(4-Benzyloxy-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 595.3 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-Benzyloxy-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 595.5 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-Cyano-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 500.4 (M+H); -   6-[4-(4-Cyano-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-[4-(4-Dimethylamino-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 518.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-hydroxy-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 491.0 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-hydroxy-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-hexyloxy-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 575.5 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-{4-[4-(3-methyl-butoxy)-phenoxy]-phenyl}-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 561.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-hexyloxy-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 575.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-{4-[3-(3-methyl-butoxy)-phenoxy]-phenyl}-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 561.3 (M+H); -   (3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-phenoxy)-acetic     acid benzyl ester, MS (ES+): 639.1 (M+H); -   (4-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-phenoxy)-acetic     acid benzyl ester, MS (ES+): 639.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-(4-phenylamino-phenoxy)-phenyl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 566.2 (M+H); -   6-[4-(4-Benzylamino-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 580.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-hydroxymethyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 505.1 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-Benzyloxy-phenoxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 623.5 (M+H); -   6-[4-(4-Benzyloxy-phenoxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 623.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-hydroxy-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-hydroxy-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-[4-(3-Cyano-4-trifluoromethyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 576.0 (M+H); -   4-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-2-methyl-phenoxy}-benzoic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 547.3 (M+H); -   3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-2-methyl-phenoxy}-benzoic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 547.4 (M+H); -   4-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoic     acid, MS (ES+): 519.2 (M+H); -   3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N-methyl-benzamide, -   3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N,N-dimethyl-benzamide,     MS (ES+): 546.5 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-{4-[3-(piperidine-1-carbonyl)-phenoxy]-phenyl}-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 586.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-{4-[3-(3-hydroxy-piperidine-1-carbonyl)-phenoxy]-phenyl}-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 602.4 (M+H); -   N-Benzyl-3-{4-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzamide,     MS (ES+): 608.4 (M+H); -   3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoic     acid N′-phenyl-hydrazide, MS (ES+): 609.3 (M+H); -   3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N-cyclopentyl-benzamide,     MS (ES+): 586.3 (M+H); -   3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N-methoxy-N-methyl-benzamide,     MS (ES+): 562.5 (M+H); -   3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N—((S)-1-phenyl-ethyl)-benzamide,     MS (ES+): 622.4 (M+H); -   3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N,N-dimethyl-benzamide, -   3-Benzyloxy-5-{4-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoic     acid methyl ester, -   3-Benzyloxy-5-{4-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N,N-dimethyl-benzamide,     MS (ES+): 660.5 (M+H); -   3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-5-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyl-benzamide,     MS (ES+): 570.2 (M+H); -   2-Benzyloxy-5-{4-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N,N-dimethyl-benzamide,     MS (ES+): 660.3 (M+H); -   5-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-2-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyl-benzamide,     MS (ES+): 570.7 (M+H); -   3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N-methyl-benzamide, -   N-tert-Butyl-3-{4-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzamide, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-{4-[3-(piperidine-1-carbonyl)-phenoxy]-phenyl}-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   (S)-2-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-propionic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 604.3 (M+H); -   (R)-2-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-propionic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 604.1 (M+H); -   (S)-2-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-3-methyl-butyric     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 632.3 (M+H); -   (R)-2-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-3-methyl-butyric     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 632.5 (M+H); -   (S)-2-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-4-methyl-pentanoic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 646.5 (M+H); -   (R)-2-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-4-methyl-pentanoic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 646.4 (M+H); -   (S)-2-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-3-phenyl-propionic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 680.3 (M+H); -   (R)-2-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-3-phenyl-propionic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 680.3 (M+H); -   (S)-2-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-3-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)-propionic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 670.1 (M+H); -   (R)-2-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-3-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)-propionic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 670.2 (M+H); -   (S)-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-phenyl-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 666.5 (M+H); -   (R)-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-phenyl-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 666.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-methylsulfanyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 521.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-{4-[4-(1,3-dioxo-1,3-dihydro-isoindol-2-yl)-phenoxy]-phenyl}-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 620.2 (M+H); -   3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N,N-dimethyl-thiobenzamide,     MS (ES+): 562.4 (M+H); -   6-[3-Chloro-4-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 595.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,5-Diethyl-thiazol-4-ylmethyl)-2-oxo-6-(4-phenoxy-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(4′-methanesulfonyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(4′-methanesulfonyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(4′-ethylsulfanyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 595.6 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(4′-ethanesulfonyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 627.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(4′-methylsulfanyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 581.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(5′-methylsulfanyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 581.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(4′-methylsulfanyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 581.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(5′-methylsulfanyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 581.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(4′-methanesulfonyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 614.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(4′-methanesulfonyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 614.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(3′-methanesulfonyl-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 613.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-6-[5′-trifluoromethyl-3′-(2-trimethylsilanyl-ethanesulfonyl)-biphenyl-3-yl]-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 699.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(3′-ethanesulfonyl-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 627.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[3′-(propane-2-sulfonyl)-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 641.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(4′-ethoxy-3′-methanesulfonyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[5′-(propane-1-sulfinyl)-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 625.3 (M+H); -   6-[5′-(Butane-1-sulfinyl)-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(5′-phenylmethanesulfinyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 673.4 (M+H); -   6-(5′-Cyclopropylmethanesulfinyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 637.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[5′-(propane-1-sulfinyl)-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 624.9 (M+H); -   6-[5′-(Butane-1-sulfinyl)-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 639.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(5′-phenylmethanesulfinyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 673.0 (M+H); -   6-(5′-Cyclopropylmethanesulfinyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 637.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(5′-ethanesulfinyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 611.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[3′-(propane-2-sulfinyl)-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 625.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[3′-(propane-1-sulfonyl)-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 641.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[3′-(propane-1-sulfonyl)-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 641.1 (M+H); -   6-[3′-(Butane-1-sulfonyl)-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 655.2 (M+H); -   6-[3′-(Butane-1-sulfonyl)-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 655.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(3′-phenylmethanesulfonyl-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 689.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(3′-phenylmethanesulfonyl-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 689.3 (M+H); -   6-(3′-Cyclopropylmethanesulfonyl-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 653.3 (M+H); -   6-(3′-Cyclopropylmethanesulfonyl-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(3′-ethanesulfonyl-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[3′-(propane-2-sulfonyl)-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(5′-isopropyl-3′-methanesulfonyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 587.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(5′-ethyl-3′-methanesulfonyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 573.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(3′-ethanesulfonyl-5′-isopropyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 601.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(3′-methanesulfonyl-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): δ 13.1 (M+H); -   6-(3′-Acetyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-(4′-Acetyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-3-carboxylic     acid amide, -   3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-4-carboxylic     acid amide, -   3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-3-carboxylic     acid dimethylamide, -   3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-4-carboxylic     acid dimethylamide, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[3′-(pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-biphenyl-3-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4′-(piperidine-1-carbonyl)-biphenyl-3-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-3-carboxylic     acid ethylamide, -   3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-4-carboxylic     acid methylamide, -   3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-4-carboxylic     acid phenylamide, -   3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-4-carboxylic     acid benzylamide, -   3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-5-isopropyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 567.3 (M+H); -   3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-5-isopropyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic     acid methyl ester; -   {3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-3-yl}-acetic     acid, MS (ES+): 525.5 (M+H); -   {4′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-3-yl}-acetic     acid, MS (ES+): 525.4 (M+H); -   {3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-4-yl}-acetic     acid, MS (ES+): 525.3 (M+H); -   {4′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-4-yl}-acetic     acid, MS (ES+): 591.2 (M+H); -   {3-Chloro-3′-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-4-yl}-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 573.2 (M+H); -   {3-Chloro-3′-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-4-yl}-acetic     acid, MS (ES+): 559.1 (M+H); -   6-(3′,5′-Bis-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-(3′,5′-Bis-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-(3′-Chloro-4′-ethoxy-biphenyl-3-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(3′,4′-dimethoxy-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-(3′-Chloro-4′-ethoxy-biphenyl-4-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(3-phenylethynyl-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 491.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(4-phenylethynyl-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 491.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[3-((E)-styryl)-phenyl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 493.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-((E)-styryl)-phenyl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 493.4 (M+H); -   6-(3′-Amino-biphenyl-3-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(4′-ethoxy-3′-nitro-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-(3′-Amino-4′-ethoxy-biphenyl-3-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   {3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-4-ethoxy-biphenyl-3-yl}-carbamic     acid tert-butyl ester, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(5-m-tolyl-thiophen-2-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 487.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(5-m-tolyl-thiophen-2-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 519.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(5-m-tolyl-thiophen-2-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 479.1 (M+H); -   6-[5-(3-Chloro-4-ethoxy-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-dichloro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 585.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methoxy-3-methyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 549.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-6-[5-(2,4,5-trimethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 547.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methoxy-2-methyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-[5-(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-dichloro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 640.9 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(5-o-tolyl-thiophen-2-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 519.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 565.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3,5-dichloro-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-[5-(3,5-Dichloro-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(5-o-tolyl-thiophen-2-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 487.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 533.2 (M+H); -   6-[5-(3-Chloro-4-ethoxy-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 551.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methoxy-3-methyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 517.3 (M+H); -   6-[5-(2-Bromo-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 488.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-6-[5-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 541.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(2-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 559.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methoxy-3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 531.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 517.0 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-hydroxymethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 502.9 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-[4-(3-Chloro-4-ethoxy-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methoxy-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 571.0 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-fluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 559.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(5-phenylethynyl-thiophen-2-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 497.0 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(4-phenylethynyl-thiophen-2-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 497.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[5-((E)-styryl)-thiophen-2-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 499.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-((E)-styryl)-thiophen-2-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 499.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(5-phenethyl-thiophen-2-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 501 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-hydroxymethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-methoxy-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 570.9 (M+H); -   6-[5-(3-Chloro-4-methyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 521.1 (M+H); -   6-[5-(3-Chloro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 575.3 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-Chloro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 574.9 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-Chloro-4-methyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 521.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-methoxy-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 571.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-ethoxy-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 585.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-ethoxy-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 585.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-ethoxy-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 585.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-ethoxy-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 585.2 (M+H); -   6-{5-[3-Chloro-4-(2,2,2-trifluoro-ethoxy)-phenyl]-thiophen-2-yl}-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 605.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 559.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 558.9 (M+H); -   6-[5-(3-Chloro-4-hydroxy-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 523.2 (M+H); -   6-{5-[3-Chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-phenyl]-thiophen-2-yl}-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 567.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-ethoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 585.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-ethoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 585.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-isopropoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 599.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-isopropoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 599.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-ethoxy-5-ethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 545.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-ethoxy-5-ethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 545.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-ethyl-5-isopropoxy-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 559.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-ethyl-5-isopropoxy-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 559.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 583.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 551.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 543.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-ethanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 565.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-3-dimethylaminomethyl-6-[5-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1H-pyridin-2-one,     MS (ES+): 583.5 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 583.3 (M+H); -   N-{1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridin-3-ylmethyl}-methanesulfonamide,     MS (ES+): 633.3 (M+H); -   3-Diethylaminomethyl-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1H-pyridin-2-one,     MS (ES+): 611.4 (M+H); -   N-{1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridin-3-ylmethyl}-guanidine,     MS (ES+): 597.5 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 551.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-ethanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 565.4 (M+H); -   6-[5-(3,5-Bis-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 628.9 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methylsulfanyl-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 587.5 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-methylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 587.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-methylsulfanyl-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 586.8 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-methylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 587.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methyl-3-methylsulfanyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 533.8 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methanesulfinyl-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 518.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(5-methanesulfinyl-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-methanesulfonyl-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 620.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-methanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): δ 19.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-ethoxy-3-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 595.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-{5-[3-(propane-1-sulfinyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-thiophen-2-yl}-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-{5-[3-(Butane-1-sulfinyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-thiophen-2-yl}-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[5-(3-phenylmethanesufinyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-[5-(3-Cyclopropylmethanesulfinyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-ethanesulfinyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-{4-[3-(propane-1-sulfinyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-thiophen-2-yl}-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-{4-[3-(Butane-1-sulfinyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-thiophen-2-yl}-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-(3-phenylmethanesulfinyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-[4-(3-Cyclopropylmethanesulfinyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-ethanesulfinyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-{4-[3-(propane-2-sulfinyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-thiophen-2-yl}-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-{5-[3-(propane-1-sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-thiophen-2-yl}-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-{5-[3-(Butane-1-sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-thiophen-2-yl}-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): δ 1.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[5-(3-phenylmethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 695.1 (M+H); -   6-[5-(3-Cyclopropylmethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-{4-[3-(propane-1-sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-thiophen-2-yl}-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-{4-[3-(Butane-1-sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-thiophen-2-yl}-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-[4-(3-Cyclopropylmethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-{4-[3-(propane-2-sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-thiophen-2-yl}-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-isopropyl-5-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 593.0 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-isopropyl-5-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 593.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methanesulfonyl-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): δ 19.2 (M+H); -   6-[5-(3-Ethanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2-fluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 547.3 (M+H); -   1-(2-Chloro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-ethanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 563.2 (M+H); -   1-(2-Fluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 533.3 (M+H); -   1-(2-Chloro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-[5-(3-Ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2-fluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 615.0 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-ethyl-5-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 679.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-ethyl-5-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 679.3 (M+H); -   1-(2-Chloro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 631.2 (M+H); -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-3-yl}-phenyl)-acetic     acid, MS (ES+): 515.2 (M+H); -   1-(2-Chloro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-isopropyl-5-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 591.1 (M+H); -   1-(2-Fluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 533.2 (M+H); -   1-(2-Chloro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 549.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-isopropyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 607.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-isopropyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 607.3 (M+H); -   6-[5-(3-Ethanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(4-ethyl-2-fluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 575.2 (M+H); -   1-(4-Ethyl-2-fluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(4-Ethyl-2-fluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 561.2 (M+H); -   6-[5-(3-Ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(4-ethyl-2-fluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(4-Ethyl-2-fluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-isopropyl-5-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 603.2 (M+H); -   4-(1,1-Difluoro-propyl)-1-(2-fluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 543.3 (M+H); -   4-(1,1-Difluoro-propyl)-1-(2-fluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 543.3 (M+H); -   4-(1,1-Difluoro-propyl)-6-[5-(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-isopropyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2-fluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 599.2 (M+H); -   6-[5-(3-tert-Butyl-5-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 607.2 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-tert-Butyl-5-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 607.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-ethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 593.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-{5-[3-ethyl-5-(propane-1-sulfonyl)-phenyl]-thiophen-2-yl}-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 607.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-{5-[3-ethyl-5-(propane-2-sulfonyl)-phenyl]-thiophen-2-yl}-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 607.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-ethyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 593.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-{4-[3-ethyl-5-(propane-1-sulfonyl)-phenyl]-thiophen-2-yl}-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 607.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-{4-[3-ethyl-5-(propane-2-sulfonyl)-phenyl]-thiophen-2-yl}-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 607.5 (M+H); -   1-(4-Chloro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 579.0 (M+H); -   6-[5-(3-Ethanesulfonyl-5-isopropyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2-fluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 589.3 (M+H); -   1-(2-Chloro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-isopropyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 605.4 (M+H); -   1-(4-Chloro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-isopropyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 605.6 (M+H); -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-5-isopropyl-phenyl)-acetic     acid, MS (ES+): 573.2 (M+H); -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-5-isopropyl-phenyl)-acetic     acid, MS (ES+): 573.3 (M+H); -   1-(4-Chloro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 549.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-4-(1,1-difluoro-heptyl)-6-[5-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 617.0 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-4-(1,1-difluoro-heptyl)-6-[5-(3-ethanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 631.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-4-(1,1-difluoro-heptyl)-6-[5-(3-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 617.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-4-(1,1-difluoro-3-methyl-butyl)-6-[5-(3-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 589.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-4-(1,1-difluoro-3-methyl-butyl)-6-[5-(3-ethanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 603.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-4-(1,1-difluoro-3-methyl-butyl)-6-[5-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 589.4 (M+H); -   4-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-benzenesulfonamide,     MS (ES+): 552.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-formyl-4-methoxy-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   Carbonic acid tert-butyl ester     4-{5-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-phenyl     ester, MS (ES+): 589.4 (M+H); -   6-[5-(3-Chloro-4-cyano-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 531.8 (M+H); -   6-[5-(3-Cyano-4-ethoxy-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 547.4 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-Cyano-4-ethoxy-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 526.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-ethoxy-3-nitro-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-[5-(3-Amino-4-ethoxy-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   (2-Chloro-4-{5-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-phenoxy)-acetic     acid ethyl ester, MS (ES+): 609.2 (M+H); -   (2-Chloro-4-{5-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-phenoxy)-acetic     acid, MS (ES+): 581.3 (M+H); -   6-[5-(4-Amino-3-chloro-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 522.2 (M+H); -   (5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-2-ethoxy-phenyl)-carbamic     acid tert-butyl ester, -   (5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-2-ethoxy-phenyl)-carbamic     acid tert-butyl ester, -   4-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-benzoic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 531.2 (M+H); -   3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-benzoic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 530.9 (M+H); -   3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-benzoic     acid, -   4-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-benzoic     acid, -   3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-5-isopropyl-benzoic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 573.2 (M+H); -   3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-5-isopropyl-benzoic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 573.2 (M+H); -   3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N,N-dimethyl-thiobenzamide,     MS (ES+): 562.4 (M+H); -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-phenyl)-acetic     acid, -   (4-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-phenyl)-acetic     acid, -   (4-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-phenyl)-acetic     acid, -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-phenyl)-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 545.2 (M+H); -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-phenyl)-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 545.3 (M+H); -   (4-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-phenyl)-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 545.2 (M+H); -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-5-isopropoxy-phenyl)-acetic     acid, MS (ES+): 589.2 (M+H); -   (5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-2-methoxy-phenyl)-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 575.4 (M+H); -   (5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-2-methoxy-phenyl)-acetic     acid methyl ester, -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-5-isopropoxy-phenyl)-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 603.2 (M+H); -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-4-fluoro-phenyl)-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 563.3 (M+H); -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-4-methoxy-phenyl)-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 575.1 (M+H); -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-5-isopropoxy-phenyl)-acetic     acid, MS (ES+): 589.2 (M+H); -   (5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-2-methoxy-phenyl)-acetic     acid, MS (ES+): 561.2 (M+H); -   (5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-2-methoxy-phenyl)-acetic     acid, MS (ES+): 561.3 (M+H); -   2-(3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-phenyl)-2-methyl-propionic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 573.2 (M+H); -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-4-fluoro-phenyl)-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 563.2 (M+H); -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-4-methoxy-phenyl)-acetic     acid, MS (ES+): 561.2 (M+H); -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-4-(1,1-difluoro-heptyl)-6-oxo-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-phenyl)-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 611.5 (M+H); -   (2-Chloro-4-{5-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-phenyl)-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 579.3 (M+H); -   (2-Chloro-4-{5-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-phenyl)-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 579.4 (M+H); -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-phenyl)-acetic     acid tert-butyl ester, MS (ES+): 587 (M+H); -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-4-(1,1-difluoro-3-methyl-butyl)-6-oxo-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-phenyl)-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 583 (M+H); -   3-(3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-phenyl)-propionic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 559.1 (M+H); -   3-(3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-phenyl)-propionic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 559.2 (M+H); -   3-(4-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-phenyl)-propionic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 559.1 (M+H); -   3-(4-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-phenyl)-propionic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 558.7 (M+H); -   6-[5-(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 593 (M+H); -   6-[5-(2-Chloro-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 559 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 517.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 503.3 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 593.2 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-Chloro-4-ethoxy-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 535.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methoxy-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 555.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-fluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 543.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-fluoro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 542.9 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-methoxy-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 555.2 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-Chloro-4-methyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 504.8 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-Chloro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 559.1 (M+H); -   6-[5-(3-Chloro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 559 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 543.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-fluoro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 543.4 (M+H); -   6-[5-(3-Chloro-4-methyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 504.9 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-ethoxy-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 569.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-ethoxy-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 569.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-ethoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 569.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-isopropoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 583.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-ethoxy-5-ethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 529.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-ethyl-5-isopropoxy-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 543.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 535.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methylsulfanyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 503.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-ethanesulfonyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 549.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 535.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methylsulfanyl-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 570.9 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-methylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 571.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-methylsulfanyl-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 571.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-methylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 571.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methyl-3-methylsulfanyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 518.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methanesulfonyl-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 604.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-methanesulfonyl-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 604.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-methanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 603.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-methanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 603.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-{5-[3-(propane-2-sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-furan-2-yl}-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 631.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 616.9 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-{4-[3-(propane-1-sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-furan-2-yl}-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 630.9 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-{4-[3-(propane-2-sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-furan-2-yl}-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 631.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-{5-[3-(propane-1-sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-furan-2-yl}-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 630.9 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-isopropyl-5-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 577.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-ethyl-5-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 563.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-ethyl-5-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 563 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-isopropyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 591.2 (M+H); -   1-(2-Fluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 517.4 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-tert-Butyl-5-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 591.2 (M+H); -   1-(2-Fluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 517.2 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-Ethanesulfonyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-1-(2-fluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 531.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-{4-[3-ethyl-5-(propane-1-sulfonyl)-phenyl]-furan-2-yl}-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 591.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-{4-[3-ethyl-5-(propane-2-sulfonyl)-phenyl]-furan-2-yl}-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 591.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 535.4 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-Chloro-4-cyano-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 516.5 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-Cyano-4-ethoxy-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 526.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-ethoxy-3-nitro-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-[4-(4-Amino-3-chloro-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 506.2 (M+H); -   (5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-3-yl}-2-ethoxy-phenyl)-carbamic     acid tert-butyl ester, -   (5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-2-yl}-2-ethoxy-phenyl)-carbamic     acid tert-butyl ester, -   3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-3-yl}-5-isopropyl-benzoic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 557.3 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-Amino-4-ethoxy-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-3-yl}-phenyl)-acetic     acid, -   (4-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-3-yl}-phenyl)-acetic     acid, -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-3-yl}-5-isopropyl-phenyl)-acetic     acid, MS (ES+): 557.4 (M+H); -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-3-yl}-phenyl)-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 529.4 (M+H); -   (4-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-3-yl}-phenyl)-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 529.3 (M+H); -   (5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-3-yl}-2-methoxy-phenyl)-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 559.3 (M+H); -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-3-yl}-5-isopropoxy-phenyl)-acetic     acid, MS (ES+): 573.2 (M+H); -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-3-yl}-4-methoxy-phenyl)-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 559.2 (M+H); -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-3-yl}-4-fluoro-phenyl)-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 547.4 (M+H); -   (5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-3-yl}-2-methoxy-phenyl)-acetic     acid, MS (ES+): 545.3 (M+H); -   (2-Chloro-4-{5-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-3-yl}-phenyl)-acetic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 563.2 (M+H); -   (3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-benzyl)-carbamic     acid tert-butyl ester, MS (ES+): 602.4 (M+H); -   3-(3-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-3-yl}-phenyl)-propionic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 543.3 (M+H); -   3-(4-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-3-yl}-phenyl)-propionic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 543.5 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(3-thiazol-2-yl-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 474.2 (M+H); -   5-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-1H-indole-2-carboxylic     acid ethyl ester, -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(1H-indol-5-yloxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 514.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-(pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 477.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-(pyrazin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 477.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(4,6-dimethyl-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 505.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-(pyrazin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 516.9 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-(pyrazin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 485.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(3,6-dimethyl-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 505.3 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-Chloro-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 511.2 (M+H); -   6-[4-(6-Chloro-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 511.2 (M+H); -   2-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-nicotinonitrile,     MS (ES+): 501.3 (M+H); -   2-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-6-methyl-nicotinonitrile,     MS (ES+): 515.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-6-[4-(5-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 544.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-6-[4-(1H-indol-5-yloxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 554.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(1H-indol-5-yloxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 522.1 (M+H); -   1-(2-Chloro-4-fluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(1H-indol-5-yloxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 538.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[3-methyl-4-(pyrazin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 491.3 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-Chloro-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 525.4 (M+H); -   6-[4-(6-Chloro-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 525.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(3,6-dimethyl-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 519.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[3-isopropyl-4-(pyrazin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 519.3 (M+H); -   6-[4-(3-Chloro-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 553.4 (M+H); -   6-[4-(6-Chloro-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 553.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(3,6-dimethyl-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 547.3 (M+H); -   2-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-2-isopropyl-phenoxy}-6-methyl-nicotinonitrile,     MS (ES+): 557.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-(pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 485.1 (M+H); -   3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-pyrazine-2-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 510.1 (M+H); -   2-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-6-methyl-nicotinonitrile,     MS (ES+): 523.2 (M+H); -   2-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-nicotinonitrile,     MS (ES+): 509.2 (M+H); -   6-[4-(6-Chloro-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 519.3 (M+H); -   6-[3-Chloro-4-(pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 519.2 (M+H); -   6-[3-Chloro-4-(pyrazin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 519.2 (M+H); -   2-{2-Chloro-4-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-nicotinonitrile,     MS (ES+): 543.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(1H-indol-5-yloxy)-3,5-dimethyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(1H-indol-5-yl)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 506.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[3-(1H-indol-5-yl)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 506.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(3-pyridin-3-yl-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(3-pyridin-4-yl-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(1H-indol-5-yloxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-6-[4-(5-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 552.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-6-[4-(3-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 552.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-6-[4-(6-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 552.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(1H-indol-6-yloxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-4-trifluoromethyl-nicotinic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 610.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-6-[4-(1-methyl-1H-indol-5-yloxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   5-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-1H-indole-2-carboxylic     acid ethyl ester, MS (ES+): 586.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-(piperidin-4-yloxy)-phenyl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(3-piperidin-1-yl-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 474.2 (M+H); -   4-{3-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenyl}-piperazine-1-carboxylic     acid tert-butyl ester, MS (ES+): 575.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(4-piperidin-1-yl-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 474.3 (M+H); -   4-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenyl}-piperazine-1-carboxylic     acid tert-butyl ester, MS (ES+): 575.4 (M+H); -   4-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-piperidine-1-carboxylic     acid tert-butyl ester, MS (ES+): 582.3 (M+H); -   6-(3-Benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl-phenyl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-(4-Benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl-phenyl)-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-methoxy-pyridin-3-yl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 488.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(2,4-dimethoxy-pyrimidin-5-yl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 519.5 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(4-pyridin-4-yl-furan-2-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 458.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-methylsulfanyl-pyridin-3-yl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 504.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-methanesulfonyl-pyridin-3-yl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 536.2 (M+H); -   5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-3-yl}-2-ethoxy-nicotinonitrile,     MS (ES+): 527.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-ethoxy-pyridin-3-yl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 502.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-isopropoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-3-yl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 584.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-methanesulfonyl-pyridin-3-yl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 536 (M+H); -   5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-3-yl}-2-ethoxy-nicotinic     acid ethyl ester, MS (ES+): 574.1 (M+H); -   5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-2-yl}-2-ethoxy-nicotinic     acid ethyl ester, MS (ES+): 574 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(5-methyl-6-methylsulfanyl-pyridin-3-yl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 518.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-methanesulfonyl-5-methyl-pyridin-3-yl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 550.3 (M+H); -   5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-furan-3-yl}-2-methanesulfonyl-nicotinic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 594.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(5-isopropenyl-6-methylsulfanyl-pyridin-3-yl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 544.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-ethoxy-5-isopropenyl-pyridin-3-yl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 542.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(5-isopropenyl-6-methanesulfonyl-pyridin-3-yl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 576.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-4-(1,1-difluoro-propyl)-6-[4-(6-methanesulfonyl-5-methyl-pyridin-3-yl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 560.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-ethylsulfanyl-5-methyl-pyridin-3-yl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 532.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-ethoxy-5-isopropyl-pyridin-3-yl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 544.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(5-isopropyl-6-methanesulfonyl-pyridin-3-yl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 578.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-ethanesulfonyl-5-methyl-pyridin-3-yl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 564.2 (M+H); -   6-[4-(2-Chloro-pyridin-4-yl)-furan-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 492.2 (M+H); -   1-(2-Fluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-methanesulfonyl-5-methyl-pyridin-3-yl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 532.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-(6-piperazin-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-furan-2-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 542.4 (M+H); -   6-(5-Benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl-furan-2-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 501.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(2,3-dihydro-benzo[1,4]dioxin-6-yl)-furan-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 515.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(5-pyridin-3-yl-thiophen-2-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 474.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(5-pyridin-4-yl-thiophen-2-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 474 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(4-pyridin-3-yl-thiophen-2-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(4-pyridin-4-yl-thiophen-2-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(1H-indol-5-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(5-pyridin-2-yl-thiophen-2-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 474.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-methoxy-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 504.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(2,4-dimethoxy-pyrimidin-5-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 535 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(5-pyrimidin-5-yl-thiophen-2-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 475.2 (M+H); -   6-[5-(2,6-Bis-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 610.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-ethoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 586.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-ethoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 586.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-methylsulfanyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 520.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-methanesulfonyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 552.2 (M+H); -   5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-2-ethoxy-nicotinonitrile,     MS (ES+): 543.1 (M+H); -   5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-2-ethoxy-nicotinonitrile,     MS (ES+): 543.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-ethoxy-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 518.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-ethoxy-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 518.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-isopropoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 600.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[5-(1-oxy-pyridin-4-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 490.2 (M+H); -   5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-2-ethoxy-nicotinic     acid ethyl ester, MS (ES+): 590.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(5-methyl-6-methylsulfanyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 534.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(5-methyl-6-methylsulfanyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 534.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-methanesulfonyl-5-methyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 566.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-methanesulfonyl-5-methyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 566.2 (M+H); -   5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-2-methylsulfanyl-nicotinic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 578.3 (M+H); -   5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-2-methylsulfanyl-nicotinic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 578.2 (M+H); -   5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-2-methanesulfonyl-nicotinic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 610.2 (M+H); -   5-{5-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-3-yl}-2-methanesulfonyl-nicotinic     acid methyl ester, MS (ES+): 610.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(5-isopropenyl-6-methylsulfanyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 560.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(5-isopropenyl-6-methanesulfonyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 592.2 (M+H); -   1-(2-Fluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-methanesulfonyl-5-methyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 548.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-ethoxy-5-isopropenyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 558.3 (M+H); -   1-(4-Ethyl-2-fluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-methanesulfonyl-5-methyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 576.2 (M+H); -   1-(2-Chloro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-methanesulfonyl-5-methyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 564.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-ethoxy-5-isopropenyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 558.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-ethoxy-5-isopropyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 560.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-ethylsulfanyl-5-methyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 548.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-ethoxy-5-isopropyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 560.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(5-isopropyl-6-methanesulfonyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 594.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-ethanesulfonyl-5-methyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 580.4 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-ethanesulfonyl-5-methyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 580.5 (M+H); -   4-(1,1-Difluoro-propyl)-1-(2-fluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-methanesulfonyl-5-methyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 558.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-ethylsulfanyl-5-methyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 548.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(2-methanesulfonyl-6-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 620.3 (M+H); -   Acetic acid     1-(5-{5-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-2-methanesulfonyl-pyridin-3-yl)-ethyl     ester, MS (ES+): 638.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(2-ethanesulfonyl-6-ethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 594.2 (M+H); -   1-(4-Chloro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-methanesulfonyl-5-methyl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 564 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-{5-[5-(1-hydroxy-ethyl)-6-methanesulfonyl-pyridin-3-yl]-thiophen-2-yl}-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 596.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(6-morpholin-4-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-[5-(2-Chloro-pyridin-4-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 508.1 (M+H); -   1-(4-Chloro-benzyl)-6-[5-(3-ethanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 563.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[5-(6-piperazin-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 558.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-(6-piperazin-1-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 558.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(6-morpholin-4-yl-pyridin-3-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 559.3 (M+H); -   6-(4-Benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl-thiophen-2-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   6-(5-Benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl-thiophen-2-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 516.7 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(2,3-dihydro-benzo[1,4]dioxin-6-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 531.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[5-(2,3-dihydro-benzofuran-5-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 515.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(2,3-dihydro-benzofuran-5-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; -   1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-6-[5-(4-methyl-naphthalen-1-yl)-thiophen-2-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile, -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(5-naphthalen-2-yl-thiophen-2-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 523.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(5-naphthalen-1-yl-thiophen-2-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 523.3 (M+H); -   6-(1-Benzyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 471.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 456.8 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(3,5-dimethyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 485.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(1-phenyl-5-trifluoromethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 525.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(5-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 471.2 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-6-[1-benzyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[1-(4-methoxy-benzyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 501.3 (M+H); -   6-[1-(3-Cyano-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 550.1 (M+H); -   6-[1-(3-Chloro-4-cyano-phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 516.1 (M+H); -   6-[1-(3-Chloro-4-ethoxy-phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 535.1 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[1-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 535 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[1-(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 517.1 (M+H); -   6-[1-(4-Cyano-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 550.3 (M+H); -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-6-[1-(6-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 526.3 (M+H); and -   1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-6-[1-(5-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile,     MS (ES+): 526.3 (M+H).

Example 7 FRET Coactivator Assay

The FRET coactivator assay measures the ability of LXR ligands to promote protein-protein interactions between the ligand binding domain (LBD) of LXR and transcriptional coactivator proteins. The assay involves the use a recombinant Glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-nuclear receptor ligand binding domain (LBD) fusion protein and a synthetic biotinylated peptide sequence derived from the receptor interacting domain of a co-activator peptide such as the steroid receptor coactivator 1 (SRC-1). Typically GST-LBD is labeled with a europium chelate (donor) via a europium-tagged anti-GST antibody, and the coactivator peptide is labeled with allophycocyanin via a streptavidin-biotin linkage.

In the presence of an agonist for the nuclear receptor, the peptide is recruited to the GST-LBD bringing europium and allophycocyanin into close proximity to enable energy transfer from the europium chelate to the allophycocyanin. Upon excitation of the complex with light at 340 nm excitation energy absorbed by the europium chelate is transmitted to the allophycocyanin moiety resulting in emission at 665 nm. If the europium chelate is not brought into close proximity to the allophycocyanin moiety there is little or no energy transfer and excitation of the europium chelate results in emission at 615 nm. Thus the intensity of light emitted at 665 nm gives an indication of the strength of the protein-protein interaction.

Required Materials:

1. Partially purified recombinant protein comprising glutathione-S-transferase fused in frame to the LXR-ligand binding domain (comprising amino acids 188-447 of human LXRα, or amino acids 198-461 of human LXRβ).

2. Biotinylated peptide containing a SRC-1 LXXLL receptor interaction motif (B-SRC-1)

3. Anti-GST antibody conjugated to an Europium chelate (αGST-K) (From Wallac/PE Life Sciences Cat# AD0064)

4. Streptavidin linked allophycocyanin (SA-APC) (From Wallac/PE Life Sciences CAT# AD0059A)

5. 1×FRET Buffer: (20 mM KH₂PO₄/K₂HPO₄ pH 7.3, 150 mM NaCl, 2.5 mM CHAPS, 2 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT (add fresh))

6. 96 well or 384 well black multiwell plates (from LJL)

Stock Solutions:

0.5 M KH₂PO₄/K₂HPO₄: pH 7.3

5 M NaCl

80 mM (5%) CHAPS

0.5 M EDTA pH 8.0

1 M DTT (keep at −20° C.)

Preparation of Screening Reagents:

Prepare reaction mixture for the appropriate number of wells by combining the following reagents 5 nM/well GST-hLXRαLBD, 5 nM/well GST-hLXRβLBD, 5 nM/well Anti-GST antibody (Eu), 12 nM/well biotin-SRC-1 peptide, 12 nM/well APC-SA adjust the volume to 10 μL/well with 1×-FRET buffer.

Procedure:

Add 0.5 μL of a 1 mM stock compound (for approx. 10 μM final concentration) or solvent to each well in a 96 well or 384 well black plate (LJL).

Add 10 μl reaction mixture (prepared above) to each well of the multiwell plate.

Incubate covered or in the dark (the APC is light sensitive) at ambient temperature for 1-4 hours. After this time if reactions are not read they can be stored at 4° C. for several more hours without too much loss of signal.

Read the plate using an LJL Analyst, or similar instrument, using the following conditions:

Channel 1: Excitation is 330 nm and emission is 615. This is for Eu chelate

Channel 2: Excitation is 330 nm and emission is 665. This is for APC

For channel 1: Flashes per well=100; Integration time=1000 μs; interval between flashes=1×10 ms; Delay after flash=200 μs

For channel 2: Flashes per well=100; Integration time=100 μs; interval between flashes=1×10 ms; Delay after flashes=65 μs

Example 8 Scintillation Proximity Assay (SPA)

The SPA assay measures the radioactive signal generated by the binding of ³H-24,25-epoxycholesterol to LXRα or LXRβ. The basis of the assay is the use of SPA beads containing a scintillant, such that when binding to the receptor brings the labeled ligand into proximity with the bead, the energy from the label stimulates the scintillant to emit light. The light is measured using a standard microplate scintillation reader. The ability of a ligand to bind to a receptor can be measured by assessing the degree to which the compound can compete off a radiolabelled ligand with known affinity for the receptor.

Required Materials:

1. Label: ³H-24,25-epoxy-cholesterol (Amersham)

2. LXRα lysate: Baculovirus expressed LXRα/RXR heterodimer with RXR having a 6-HIS tag produced as a crude lysate

3. LXRβ lysate: Baculovirus expressed LXR/RXR heterodimer with RXR having a 6-HIS tag produced as a crude lysate

4. SPA beads: Ysi copper His-tag SPA beads (Amersham)

5. Plates: Non-binding surface 96-well plate (Corning)

6. Protein lysate dilution buffer: (20 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.9, 500 mM NaCl, 5 mM Imidazole).

7. 2×SPA Buffer: (40 mM K₂HPO₄/KH₂PO₄ pH 7.3, 100 mM NaCl, 0.05% Tween 20, 20% Glycerol, 4 mM EDTA)

8. 2×SPA Buffer w/o EDTA: (40 mM K₂HPO₄/KH₂PO₄ pH 7.3, 100 mM NaCl, 0.05% Tween 20, 20% Glycerol)

Stock Solutions

0.5 M K₂HPO₄/KH₂PO₄ pH 7.3

0.5 M EDTA pH 8.0

5 M NaCl

10% Tween-20

Glycerol

Preparation of Protein Lysates

Baculovirus expression plasmids for human RXR α (accession No NM_(—)002957), LXRα (accession No U22662), LXRβ (accession No U07132) were made by cloning the appropriate full-length cDNAs into the pBacPakhis1 vector (Clontech, CA) following standard procedures. Insertion of the cDNAs into the pBAcPakhis1 vector polylinker created an in frame fusion to the cDNA to an N-terminal poly-His tag present in pBacPakhis1. Correct cloning was confirmed by restriction mapping, and/or sequencing.

Cell lysates were prepared by infecting healthy, Sf9 insect cells at a density of approximately 1.25×10⁶/ml at 27° C., in a total volume of 500 mL per 1 L sized spinner flasks, cultured under standard conditions. To prepare LXRα lysate, insect cells were co-transfected with the LXRα expression cassette at an M.O.I of 0.5 to 0.8 and with the RXR expression cassette at a M.O.I. of approximately 1.6. To prepare LXRβ lysate, insect cells were co-transfected with the LXRβ expression cassette at an M.O.I of approximately 1.6 and with the RXR expression cassette at a M.O.I. of approximately 1.6. In both cases cells were incubated for 48 hours at 27° C. with constant shaking prior to harvesting.

After incubation, cells were harvested by centrifugation and pelleted. Cell pellets were resuspended in two volumes of ice-cold freshly prepared extraction buffer (20 mM Tris pH 8.0, 10 mM Imidazole, 400 mM NaCl, containing one EDTA free protease inhibitor tablet (Roche Catalog No: 1836170) per 10 ml of extraction buffer).

Cells were homogenized slowly on ice using a Douncer to achieve 80-90% cell lysis. The homogenate was centrifuged in a pre-chilled rotor (Ti50 or Ti70, or equivalent) at 45,000 rpm for 30 minutes at 4° C. Aliquots of the supernatant were frozen on dry ice and stored frozen at −80° C. until quantification and quality control. Aliquots of the lysates were tested in the SPA assay to ensure lot to lot consistency, and via SDS-PAGE analysis after purification using Ni-NTA Resin (Qiagen) and adjusted for protein concentration and expression level prior to use in screening assays.

Preparation of Screening Reagents

[³H] 24,25 Epoxycholesterol (EC) solution: For a single 384-well plate (or 400 wells), 21 μL of [³H] EC (specific activity 76.5 Ci/mmol, concentration 3.2 mCi/mL) was added to 4.4 mL of 2×SPA buffer to provide for a final concentration of 200 nM. For each additional 384-well plate, an additional 19.1 μL of [³H] EC was added to 4.0 mL of additional 2×SPA buffer. The final concentration of [³H] EC in the well was 50 nM.

LXRα lysate (prepared as above) was diluted with protein lysate dilution buffer. 1400 μL of diluted LXRα lysate was prepared per 384-well plate, (or 200 wells) and 1120 μL of diluted LXRα lysate was prepared for each additional 384-well plate.

LXRβ lysate (prepared as above) was diluted with protein lysate dilution buffer. 1400 μL of diluted LXRα lysate was prepared per 384-well plate, (or 200 wells) and 1120 μL of diluted LXRβ lysate was prepared for each additional 384-well plate.

SPA bead solution: For a 384-well plate (or 400 wells), 3.75 mL of 2×SPA buffer w/o EDTA, 2.25 mL of H₂O, and 1.5 mL of Ysi His-tag SPA beads (vortex well before taking) were mixed together. For each additional 384-well plate, an additional 3.5 mL of 2×SPA buffer w/o EDTA, 2.1 mL of H₂O, and 1.4 mL of Ysi His-tag SPA beads were mixed together.

Procedure:

Appropriate dilutions of each compound were prepared and pipetted into the appropriate wells of a multiwell plate.

9.1 μL of [³H] EC was added to each well of column 2-23 of the multiwell plate.

5 μl of diluted LXRα lysate was added to each well of column 2-23 on odd rows of the multiwell plate.

5 μL of diluted LXRβ lysate was added to each well of column 2-23 on even rows of the multiwell plate.

17.5 μL of SPA bead solution was added to each well of column 2-23 of the multiwell plate.

The plates were covered with clear sealer and placed in an incubator at ambient temperature for 1 hour.

After incubation plates were analyzed using a luminescent plate reader (MicroBeta, Wallac) using the program n ABASE 3H_(—)384DPM. The setting for n ABASE 3H_(—)384DPM was:

Counting Mode: DPM

Sample Type: SPA

ParaLux Mode: low background

Count time: 30 sec.

Assays for LXRα and LXRβ were performed in the identical manner. The determined Ki represents the average of at least two independent dose response experiments. The binding affinity for each compound may be determined by non-linear regression analysis using the one site competition formula to determine the IC₅₀ where:

$Y = {{Bottom} + \frac{\left( {{Top} - {Bottom}} \right)}{\left( {1 + 10^{{X\text{-}\log \; {IC}\; 50}\;}} \right)}}$

The Ki is than calculated using the Cheng and Prusoff equation where:

Ki=IC ₅₀/(1+[Concentration of Ligand]/Kd of Ligand)

For this assay, typically the Concentration of Ligand=50 nM and the Kd of EC for the receptor is 200 nM as determined by saturation binding.

The compounds of the invention demonstrated the ability to bind to LXRα and/or LXRβ when tested in this assay.

Example 15 Co-Transfection Assay

To measure the ability of compounds to activate or inhibit the transcriptional activity of LXR in a cell based assay, the co-transfection assay was used. It has been shown that LXR functions as a heterodimer with RXR. For the co-transfection assay, expression plasmids for LXR and RXR are introduced via transient transfection into mammalian cells along with a luciferase reporter plasmid that contains one copy of a DNA sequence that is bound by LXR-RXR heterodimers (LXRE; Willy, P. et al. 1995). Treatment of transfected cells with an LXR agonist increases the transcriptional activity of LXR, which is measured by an increase in luciferase activity. Similarly, LXR antagonist activity can be measured by determining the ability of a compound to competitively inhibit the activity of a LXR agonist.

Required Materials

1. CV-1 African Green Monkey Kidney Cells

2. Co-transfection expression plasmids, comprising full-length LXRα (pCMX-hLXR α), LXRβ (pCMX-hLXR β), or RXRα (pCMX-RXR), reporter plasmid (LXREx1-Tk-Luciferase), and control (pCMX-Galactosidase expression vector) (Willey et al. Genes & Development 9 1033-1045 (1995)).

3. Transfection reagent such as FuGENE6 (Roche).

4. 1× Cell lysis buffer (1% Triton X 100 (JT Baker X200-07), 10% Glycerol (JT Baker M778-07), 5 mM Ditriotreitol (Quantum Bioprobe DTT03; add fresh before lysing), 1 mM EGTA (Ethylene Glycol-bis(B-Amino ethyl ether)-N,N,N′,N′-Tetracetic

Acid) (Sigma E-4378), 25 mM Tricine (ICN 807420) pH 7.8)

5. 1× Luciferase assay buffer (pH at 7.8) (0.73 mM ATP, 22.3 mM Tricine, 0.11 mM EDTA, 33.3 mM DTT)

6. 1× Luciferrin/CoA (11 mM Luciferin, 3.05 mM Coenzyme A, 10 mM HEPES)

Preparation of Screening Reagents

CV-1 cells were prepared 24 hours prior to the experiment by plating them into T-175 flasks or 500 cm² dishes in order to achieve 70-80% confluency on the day of the transfection. The number of cells to be transfected was determined by the number of plates to be screened. Each 384 well plate requires 1.92×106 cells or 5000 cells per well. DNA Transfection Reagent was prepared by mixing the required plasmid DNAs with a cationic lipid transfection reagent FuGENE6 (Roche) by following the instructions provided with the reagents. Optimal DNA amounts were determined empirically per cell line and size of vessel to be transfected. 10-12 mL of media was added to the DNA Transfection Reagent and this mixture was added to the cells after aspirating media from the T175 cm² flask. Cells were then incubated at least 5 hours at 37° C. to prepare screening cells.

Luciferase assay reagent was prepared by combining before use (per 10 mL):

10 mL 1× Luciferase assay buffer

0.54 mL of 1× Luciferrin/CoA

0.54 mL of 0.2 M Magnesium sulfate

Procedure

Assay plates were prepared by dispensing 5 μL of compound per well of a 384 well plate to achieve final compound concentration of 10 μM and no more than 1% DMSO. Media was removed from the screening cells, the cells trypsinized, harvested cells by centrifugation, counted, and plated at a density of approximately 5000 cells per well in the 384 well assay plate prepared above in a volume of about 45 μL. Assay plates containing both compounds and screening cells (50 μL in total volume) were incubated for 20 hours at 37° C.

After incubation with compounds, media was removed from the cells and lysis buffer (30 μL/well) added. After 30 minutes at ambient temperature, luciferase assay buffer (30 μL/well) was added and the assay plates read on a luminometer (PE Biosystems Northstar reader with on-board injectors, or equivalent). Plates were read immediately after addition of luciferase assay buffer.

The LXR/LXRE co-transfection assay can be used to establish the EC₅₀/IC₅₀ values for potency and percent activity or inhibition for efficacy. Efficacy defines the activity of a compound relative to a high control ((N-(3-((4-fluorophenyl)-(naphthalene-2-sulfonyl)amino)propyl)-2,2-dimethylpropionamide)) or a low control (DMSO/vehicle). The dose response curves are generated from an 8 point curve with concentrations differing by ½ LOG units. Each point represents the average of 4 wells of data from a 384 well plate.

The data from this assay is fitted to the following equation, from the EC₅₀ value may be solved:

Y=Bottom+(Top−Bottom)/(1+10^(((logEC50-X)*HillSlope)))

The EC₅₀/IC₅₀ is therefore defined as the concentration at which an agonist or antagonist elicits a response that is half way between the Top (maximum) and Bottom (baseline) values. The EC₅₀/IC₅₀ values represented are the averages of at least 3 independent experiments. The determination of the relative efficacy or % control for an agonist is by comparison to the maximum response achieved by ((N-(3-((4-fluorophenyl)-(naphthalene-2-sulfonyl)-amino)propyl)-2,2-dimethylpropionamide) that is measured individually in each dose response experiment.

For the antagonist assay, a LXR agonist can be added to each well of a 384 well plate to elicit a response. The % inhibition for each antagonist is therefore a measurement of the inhibition of the activity of the agonist. In this example, 100% inhibition would indicate that the activity of a specific concentration of LXR agonist has been reduced to baseline levels, defined as the activity of the assay in the presence of DMSO only.

Compounds of the invention, when tested in this assay, demonstrated the ability to modulate the activity of LXRα and/or LXRβ.

Example 16 In Vivo Studies

In order to evaluate direct regulation of key target genes by the compounds of the invention, animals are administered a single oral dose of the test compound and tissues collected at six or fifteen hours after dose. Male C57BL/6 mice (n=8) are dosed by oral gavage with vehicle or compound. At six and fifteen hours after the dose, animals are bled via the retro orbital sinus for plasma collection. Animals are then euthanized and tissues, such as liver and intestinal mucosa are collected and snap frozen for further analysis. Plasma is analyzed for a lipid parameters, such as total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. RNA is extracted for frozen tissues and can be analyzed by quantitative real time PCR for regulation of key target genes. To identify specificity of target gene regulation by LXR subtypes, LXR deficient mice (LXRα−/− or LXRβ−/−) and C57BL/6 wild-type controls are used in this same protocol.

Plasma Lipid Evaluation:

To compare the effects of compounds on plasma cholesterol and triglycerides, animals are dosed with compound for one week and plasma lipid levels are monitored throughout the study. Male C57BL/6 mice (n=8) are dosed daily by oral gavage with vehicle or compound. Plasma samples are taken on day −1 (in order to group animals), day 1, 3, and 7. Samples are collected three hours after the daily dose. On day 7 of the study, following plasma collection, animals are euthanized and tissues, such as liver and intestinal mucosa are collected and snap frozen for further analysis. Plasma is analyzed for lipid parameters, such as total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. RNA is extracted for frozen tissues and can be analyzed by quantitative real time PCR for regulation of key target genes. To identify specificity of target gene regulation by LXR subtypes, LXR deficient mice (LXRα−/− or LXRβ−/−) and C57BL/6 wild-type controls are used in this same protocol.

Cholesterol Absorption:

Evaluation of compounds to inhibit cholesterol absorption is done via measurement of labeled cholesterol in feces. Male A129 mice (n=7) are dosed daily by oral gavage with vehicle or compound for 7 days. On day 7 of the study, animals are administered [¹⁴C]-cholesterol and [³H]-sitostanol by oral gavage. Animals are individually housed on wire racks for the next 24 hours in order to collect feces. Feces are then dried and ground to a fine powder. Labeled cholesterol and sitostanol are extracted from the feces and ratios of the two are counted on a liquid scintillation counter in order to evaluate the amount of cholesterol absorbed by the individual animal.

All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. A compound of formula (I):

wherein: n is 1 to 4; m is 1 to 4;

is aryl or heteroaryl;

is aryl, heterocyclyl or heteroaryl; R¹ is hydrogen, aralkyl or heteroarylalkyl; R² is hydrogen, cyano, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—N(R⁸)S(O)₂R¹⁰ or —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(NR⁸)N(R⁸)₂; R³ is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl; each R⁴ is independently hydrogen, halo, alkyl or haloalkyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—O—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)R¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(S)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)R⁸, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰, —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2) and —R⁷—S(O)₂N(R⁸)₂; R⁶ is —OR⁷—, —N(R⁸)—, a direct bond, a straight or branched alkylene chain, a straight or branched alkenylene chain or a straight or branched alkynylene chain; each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond, a straight or branched alkylene chain or a straight or branched alkenylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl; each R⁹ is independently selected from a straight or branched alkylene chain or a straight or branched alkenylene chain; each R¹⁰ is independently selected from alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; and R¹¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heterarylalkyl; as an isomer, a mixture of stereoisomers, a racemic mixture thereof of stereoisomers, or as a tautomer; or as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, solvate or polymorph thereof.
 2. The compound of claim 1 having the following formula (II):

wherein: n is 1 to 4; m is 1 to 4; R¹ is hydrogen, aralkyl or heteroarylalkyl; R² is hydrogen, cyano or —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂; R³ is hydrogen or haloalkyl; each R⁴ is independently hydrogen, halo, alkyl or haloalkyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—O—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)R¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R—C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(S)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰, —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2) and —R⁷—S(O)₂N(R⁸)₂; R⁶ is —OR⁷—, a direct bond, a straight or branched alkylene chain, a straight or branched alkenylene chain or a straight or branched alkynylene chain; each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond, a straight or branched alkylene chain or a straight or branched alkenylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl; each R⁹ is independently selected from a straight or branched alkylene chain or a straight or branched alkenylene chain; R¹⁰ is alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; and R¹¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heterarylalkyl; as an isomer, a mixture of stereoisomers, a racemic mixture thereof of stereoisomers, or as a tautomer; or as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, solvate or polymorph thereof.
 3. The compound of claim 2 wherein: n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R¹ is aralkyl or heteroarylalkyl; R² is cyano; R³ is haloalkyl; R⁴ is hydrogen, halo, alkyl or haloalkyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—O—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)R¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(S)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰, —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2) and —R⁷—S(O)₂N(R⁸)₂; R⁶ is —OR⁷—, a direct bond, a straight or branched alkenylene chain or a straight or branched alkynylene chain; each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl; each R⁹ is a straight or branched alkylene chain optionally substituted by aryl or heteroaryl; R¹⁰ is alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; and R¹¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heterarylalkyl.
 4. The compound of claim 3 wherein R⁶ is —OR⁷—.
 5. The compound of claim 4 wherein R¹ is aralkyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from alkyl, halo or haloalkyl.
 6. The compound of claim 5 wherein n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen, methyl, 1-methylethyl or chloro; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, alkyl, alkenyl or haloalkyl.
 7. The compound of claim 6 wherein each R⁵ is independently selected from hydrogen, chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl, ethyl, 1-methylethyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, ethenyl or trifluoromethyl.
 8. The compound of claim 7 selected from the group consisting of the following: 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-isopropyl-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(4-tert-Butyl-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-fluoro-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(2,4-dimethyl-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(2,5-dimethyl-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(2,6-dimethyl-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(2-Chloro-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(3-Chloro-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[3-methyl-4-(2-trifluoromethyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[3-methyl-4-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(3-Bromo-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(4-Bromo-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(3-Benzyloxy-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(2,4-dimethyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-(4-Benzyloxy-phenyl)-1-(2,4-dichloro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(4-phenoxy-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(4-phenoxy-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2-Chloro-4-fluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(4-phenoxy-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-(4-Benzyloxy-phenyl)-1-(2-chloro-4-fluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-pentafluoroethyl-6-(4-phenoxy-phenyl)-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-(3-isopropyl-4-phenoxy-phenyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-(3-isopropyl-4-o-tolyloxy-phenyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(2-ethyl-phenoxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(2,5-dimethyl-phenoxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(2,4-dimethyl-phenoxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(3,4-dimethyl-phenoxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-(3-isopropyl-4-m-tolyloxy-phenyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[3-isopropyl-4-(3-isopropyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[3-isopropyl-4-(4-isopropyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-(3-isopropyl-4-p-tolyloxy-phenyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(4-tert-Butyl-phenoxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[3-isopropyl-4-(4-vinyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-ethyl-2-methyl-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-ethyl-2-methyl-phenoxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(2-ethyl-4-methyl-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(2-ethyl-4-methyl-phenoxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-(4-Benzyloxy-3-chloro-phenyl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[3-Chloro-4-(4-fluoro-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; and 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-fluoro-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile.
 9. The compound of claim 5 wherein: n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen, methyl, 1-methylethyl or chloro; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of haloalkyl, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—OR⁸ and R⁷—O—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸ each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond or methylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, aryl and aralkyl; and R⁹ is a methylene chain.
 10. The compound of claim 9 selected from the group consisting of the following: 6-[4-(4-Dimethylamino-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-methoxy-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(3-Cyano-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(4-Benzyloxy-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(3-Benzyloxy-phenoxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(3-Cyano-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(4-Cyano-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(4-Dimethylamino-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-hydroxy-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-hydroxy-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-hexyloxy-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-{4-[4-(3-methyl-butoxy)-phenoxy]-phenyl}-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-hexyloxy-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-{4-[3-(3-methyl-butoxy)-phenoxy]-phenyl}-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; (3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-phenoxy)-acetic acid benzyl ester; (4-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-phenoxy)-acetic acid benzyl ester; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-(4-phenylamino-phenoxy)-phenyl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(4-Benzylamino-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-hydroxymethyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(3-Benzyloxy-phenoxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(4-Benzyloxy-phenoxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(3-hydroxy-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-hydroxy-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; and 6-[4-(3-Cyano-4-trifluoromethyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile.
 11. The compound of claim 5 wherein: n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen, methyl, 1-methylethyl or chloro; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of heteroaryl, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)R¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(S)N(R⁸)₂ and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2); each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl or heterocyclyl optionally substituted with hydroxy; R⁹ is a straight or branched alkylene chain (optionally substituted by phenyl or imidazolyl); and R¹¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heterarylalkyl.
 12. The compound of claim 11 wherein: m is 1 or 2; each R⁵ is independently selected from —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)R¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)OR⁸ or —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)N(R⁸)₂; each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond or methylene; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, benzyl, 2-phenylethyl, cyclohexyl or piperidinyl optionally substituted by hydroxy; and R¹¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heterarylalkyl.
 13. The compound of claim 12 selected from the group consisting of the following: 4-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-2-methyl-phenoxy}-benzoic acid methyl ester; 3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-2-methyl-phenoxy}-benzoic acid methyl ester; 4-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoic acid; 3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N-methyl-benzamide; 3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N,N-dimethyl-benzamide; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-{4-[3-(piperidine-1-carbonyl)-phenoxy]-phenyl}-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-{4-[3-(3-hydroxy-piperidine-1-carbonyl)-phenoxy]-phenyl}-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; N-Benzyl-3-{4-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzamide; 3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoic acid N′-phenyl-hydrazide; 3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N-cyclopentyl-benzamide; 3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N-methoxy-N-methyl-benzamide; 3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N—((S)-1-phenyl-ethyl)-benzamide; 3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N,N-dimethyl-benzamide; 3-Benzyloxy-5-{4-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoic acid methyl ester; 3-Benzyloxy-5-{4-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N,N-dimethyl-benzamide; 3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-5-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyl-benzamide; 2-Benzyloxy-5-{4-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N,N-dimethyl-benzamide; 5-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-2-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyl-benzamide; 3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N-methyl-benzamide; N-tert-Butyl-3-{4-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzamide; and 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-{4-[3-(piperidine-1-carbonyl)-phenoxy]-phenyl}-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile.
 14. The compound of claim 5 wherein: n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen, methyl, 1-methylethyl or chloro; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of heteroaryl, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(S)N(R⁸)₂ and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2); each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen or alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl or heterocyclyl; and R⁹ is a straight or branched alkylene chain (optionally substituted by phenyl or imidazolyl).
 15. The compound of claim 14 wherein: n is 1; m is 1; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen or chloro; R⁵ is —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)—R⁹—C(O)OR⁸; R⁷ is a direct bond; each R⁸ is independently hydrogen or alkyl; and R⁹ is a straight or branched alkylene chain optionally substituted by phenyl or imidazolyl.
 16. The compound of claim 15 selected from the group consisting of the following: (S)-2-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-propionic acid methyl ester; (R)-2-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-propionic acid methyl ester; (S)-2-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-3-methyl-butyric acid methyl ester; (R)-2-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-3-methyl-butyric acid methyl ester; (S)-2-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-4-methyl-pentanoic acid methyl ester; (R)-2-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-4-methyl-pentanoic acid methyl ester; (S)-2-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-3-phenyl-propionic acid methyl ester; (R)-2-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-3-phenyl-propionic acid methyl ester; (S)-2-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-3-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)-propionic acid methyl ester; (R)-2-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-3-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)-propionic acid methyl ester; (S)-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-phenyl-acetic acid methyl ester; and (R)-(3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-benzoylamino)-phenyl-acetic acid methyl ester.
 17. The compound of claim 14 wherein: n is 1; m is 1; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen, methyl, 1-methylethyl or chloro; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of phthalimidyl, —R⁷—C(S)N(R⁸)₂ and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 or 2); each R⁷ is a direct bond; and each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen or alkyl.
 18. The compound of claim 17 selected from the group consisting of the following: 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(4-methylsulfanyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-{4-[4-(1,3-dioxo-1,3-dihydro-isoindol-2-yl)-phenoxy]-phenyl}-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-N,N-dimethyl-thiobenzamide; and 6-[3-Chloro-4-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile.
 19. The compound of claim 4 wherein R¹ is heteroarylalkyl.
 20. The compound of claim 19 wherein: n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R¹ is optionally substituted thiazol-5-ylmethyl; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen, methyl, 1-methylethyl or chloro; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, alkyl, alkenyl or haloalkyl.
 21. The compound of claim 20, i.e., namely 1-(2,5-Diethyl-thiazol-4-ylmethyl)-2-oxo-6-(4-phenoxy-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile.
 22. The compound of claim 3 wherein: R¹ is aralkyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from alkyl, halo or haloalkyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)R¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰, —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2) and —R⁷—S(O)₂N(R⁸)₂; R⁶ is a direct bond, a straight or branched alkenylene chain or a straight or branched alkynylene chain; each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl or heterocyclyl; each R⁹ is a straight or branched alkylene chain optionally substituted by aryl or heteroaryl; R¹⁰ is alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; and R¹¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heterarylalkyl.
 23. The compound of claim 22 wherein: n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from alkyl, halo or haloalkyl; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, trifluoromethyl, —R⁷—OR⁸ and R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2); R⁶ is a direct bond; R⁷ is a direct bond; R⁸ is hydrogen or alkyl; and R⁹ is a straight or branched alkylene chain.
 24. The compound of claim 23 selected from the group consisting of the following: 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(4′-methanesulfonyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(4′-methanesulfonyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(4′-ethylsulfanyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(4′-ethanesulfonyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(4′-methylsulfanyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(5′-methylsulfanyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(4′-methylsulfanyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(5′-methylsulfanyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(4′-methanesulfonyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(4′-methanesulfonyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(3′-methanesulfonyl-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(3′-ethanesulfonyl-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[3′-(propane-2-sulfonyl)-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(4′-ethoxy-3′-methanesulfonyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[5′-(propane-1-sulfinyl)-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[5′-(Butane-1-sulfinyl)-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(5′-phenylmethanesulfinyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-(5′-Cyclopropylmethanesulfinyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[5′-(propane-1-sulfinyl)-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[5′-(Butane-1-sulfinyl)-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(5′-phenylmethanesulfinyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-(5′-Cyclopropylmethanesulfinyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(5′-ethanesulfinyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[3′-(propane-2-sulfinyl)-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[3′-(propane-1-sulfonyl)-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[3′-(propane-1-sulfonyl)-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[3′-(Butane-1-sulfonyl)-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[3′-(Butane-1-sulfonyl)-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(3′-phenylmethanesulfonyl-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(3′-phenylmethanesulfonyl-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-(3′-Cyclopropylmethanesulfonyl-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-(3′-Cyclopropylmethanesulfonyl-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(3′-ethanesulfonyl-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[3′-(propane-2-sulfonyl)-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(5′-isopropyl-3′-methanesulfonyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(5′-ethyl-3′-methanesulfonyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(3′-ethanesulfonyl-5′-isopropyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; and 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(3′-methanesulfonyl-5′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile.
 25. The compound of claim 22 wherein: n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from alkyl, halo or haloalkyl; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, —R⁷—C(O)R¹¹, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸ or —R⁷—C(O)N(R⁸)₂; R⁶ is a direct bond; each R⁷ is a direct bond; each R⁸ is independently hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or aralkyl; and R¹¹ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, pyrrolidinyl or piperidinyl.
 26. The compound of claim 25 selected from the group consisting of the following: 6-(3′-Acetyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-(4′-Acetyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid amide; 3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid amide; 3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid dimethylamide; 3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid dimethylamide; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[3′-(pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-biphenyl-3-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4′-(piperidine-1-carbonyl)-biphenyl-3-yl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid ethylamide; 3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid methylamide; 3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid phenylamide; 3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid benzylamide; {3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-3-yl}-acetic acid; {4′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-3-yl}-acetic acid; {3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-4-yl}-acetic acid; {4′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-4-yl}-acetic acid; {3-Chloro-3′-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-4-yl}-acetic acid methyl ester; and {3-Chloro-3′-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-biphenyl-4-yl}-acetic acid.
 27. The compound of claim 22 wherein: n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl or —R⁷—OR⁸; R⁶ is a direct bond, a straight or branched alkenylene chain or a straight or branched alkynylene chain; R⁷ is a direct bond; and R⁸ is hydrogen or alkyl.
 28. The compound of claim 27 selected from the group consisting of the following: 6-(3′,5′-Bis-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-(3′,5′-Bis-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-(3′-Chloro-4′-ethoxy-biphenyl-3-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(3′,4′-dimethoxy-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-(3′-Chloro-4′-ethoxy-biphenyl-4-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(3-phenylethynyl-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(4-phenylethynyl-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[3-((E)-styryl)-phenyl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; and 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-((E)-styryl)-phenyl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile.
 29. The compound of claim 22 wherein: n is 1; m is 1 or 2; R² is cyano; R³ is trifluoromethyl; R⁴ is hydrogen; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of nitro, —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂, —R⁷—OR⁸ or —R⁷—N(R⁸)C(O)OR¹⁰; R⁶ is a direct bond; each R⁷ is a direct bond; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen or alkyl; and R¹⁰ is alkyl.
 30. The compound of claim 29 selected from the group consisting of the following: 6-(3′-Amino-biphenyl-3-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(4′-ethoxy-3′-nitro-biphenyl-3-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-(3′-Amino-4′-ethoxy-biphenyl-3-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; and {3′-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-4-ethoxy-biphenyl-3-yl}-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester.
 31. (canceled)
 32. (canceled)
 33. (canceled)
 34. (canceled)
 35. (canceled)
 36. (canceled)
 37. (canceled)
 38. (canceled)
 39. (canceled)
 40. (canceled)
 41. (canceled)
 42. (canceled)
 43. (canceled)
 44. (canceled)
 45. (canceled)
 46. (canceled)
 47. (canceled)
 48. (canceled)
 49. The compound of claim 1 having the following formula (IV):

wherein: n is 1 to 4; m is 1 to 4; R¹ is aralkyl; R² is cyano or —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂; R³ is haloalkyl;

is heterocyclyl or heteroaryl; each R⁴ is independently hydrogen, halo, alkyl or haloalkyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, alkyl, haloalkyl, —R⁷—CN and —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸; R⁶ is —O— or a direct bond; each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; and each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or aralkyl; as an isomer, a mixture of stereoisomers, a racemic mixture thereof of stereoisomers, or as a tautomer; or as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, solvate or polymorph thereof.
 50. The compound of claim 49 wherein: R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl;

is a N-heteroaryl selected from the group consisting of indolyl and thiazolyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, alkyl, haloalkyl, —R⁷—CN and —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸; and R⁶ is a direct bond.
 51. The compound of claim 50 selected from the group consisting of the following: 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(3-thiazol-2-yl-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; and 5-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid ethyl ester.
 52. The compound of claim 49 wherein: R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl;

is a N-heteroaryl selected from the group consisting of indolyl, pyrimidyl, pyrazinyl, pyridinyl and thiazolyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, alkyl, haloalkyl, —R⁷—CN and —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸; and R⁶ is —O—.
 53. The compound of claim 52 selected from the group selected from the following: 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(1H-indol-5-yloxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-(pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-(pyrazin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(4,6-dimethyl-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-(pyrazin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-(pyrazin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(3,6-dimethyl-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(3-Chloro-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(6-Chloro-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 2-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-nicotinonitrile; 2-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-6-methyl-nicotinonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-6-[4-(5-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-6-[4-(1H-indol-5-yloxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(1H-indol-5-yloxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2-Chloro-4-fluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(1H-indol-5-yloxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[3-methyl-4-(pyrazin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(3-Chloro-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(6-Chloro-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(3,6-dimethyl-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[3-isopropyl-4-(pyrazin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(3-Chloro-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[4-(6-Chloro-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(3,6-dimethyl-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-3-isopropyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 2-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-2-isopropyl-phenoxy}-6-methyl-nicotinonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-(pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 3-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-pyrazine-2-carbonitrile; 2-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-6-methyl-nicotinonitrile; 2-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-nicotinonitrile; 6-[4-(6-Chloro-pyrazin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[3-Chloro-4-(pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[3-Chloro-4-(pyrazin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 2-{2-Chloro-4-[5-cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-nicotinonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(1H-indol-5-yloxy)-3,5-dimethyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(1H-indol-5-yl)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[3-(1H-indol-5-yl)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(3-pyridin-3-yl-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(3-pyridin-4-yl-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-6-[4-(H-indol-5-yloxy)-3-methyl-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-6-[4-(5-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-6-[4-(3-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-6-[4-(6-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[4-(1H-indol-6-yloxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-4-trifluoromethyl-nicotinic acid methyl ester; 1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-6-[4-(1-methyl-1H-indol-5-yloxy)-phenyl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; and 5-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid ethyl ester.
 54. The compound of claim 49 wherein: R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl;

is N-heterocyclyl selected from the group consisting of piperidinyl and piperazinyl; and each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, alkyl, haloalkyl, —R⁷—CN and —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸.
 55. The compound of claim 54 selected from the group consisting of the following: 1-(2,4-Dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-[4-(piperidin-4-yloxy)-phenyl]-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(3-piperidin-1-yl-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 4-{3-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenyl}-piperazine-1-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(4-piperidin-1-yl-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 4-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenyl}-piperazine-1-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester; and 4-{4-[5-Cyano-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-6-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-2-yl]-phenoxy}-piperidine-1-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester.
 56. The compound of claim 49 wherein: R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl;

is benzodioxolyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of halo, alkyl, haloalkyl, —R⁷—CN and —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸; and R⁶ is a direct bond.
 57. The compound of claim 56 selected from the group consisting of the following: 6-(3-Benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl-phenyl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; and 6-(4-Benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl-phenyl)-1-(2,4-dimethyl-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile.
 58. (canceled)
 59. (canceled)
 60. (canceled)
 61. (canceled)
 62. (canceled)
 63. (canceled)
 64. (canceled)
 65. (canceled)
 66. (canceled)
 67. (canceled)
 68. (canceled)
 69. The compound of claim 1 having the following formula (VI):

wherein: n is 1 or 2; m is 1 to 4; R¹ is aralkyl; R² is cyano or —R⁷—N(R⁸)₂; R³ is haloalkyl; each R⁴ is independently hydrogen, halo, alkyl or haloalkyl;

is aryl or heteroaryl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, halo, haloalkyl, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—CN, —R⁷—C(O)OR⁸, —R⁷—OC(O)R¹⁰ and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2); R⁶ is a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R⁷ is independently selected from a direct bond, a straight or branched alkylene chain or a straight or branched alkenylene chain; each R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl; and R¹⁰ is alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; as an isomer, a mixture of stereoisomers, a racemic mixture thereof of stereoisomers, or as a tautomer; or as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, solvate or polymorph thereof.
 70. The compound of claim 69 wherein: R¹ is benzyl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of chloro, bromo, fluoro, methyl or ethyl; and

is phenyl or pyridinyl; each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—CN and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2); each R⁷ is a direct bond or a straight or branched alkylene chain; each R⁸ is hydrogen or alkyl; and R¹⁰ is alkyl.
 71. The compound of claim 70 wherein

is phenyl; and each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—CN and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2).
 72. The compound of claim 71 selected from the group consisting of the following: 6-(1-Benzyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(3,5-dimethyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-6-(1-phenyl-5-trifluoromethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-(5-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Dichloro-benzyl)-6-[1-benzyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[1-(4-methoxy-benzyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[1-(3-Cyano-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[1-(3-Chloro-4-cyano-phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 6-[1-(3-Chloro-4-ethoxy-phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[1-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-6-[1-(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; and 6-[1-(4-Cyano-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-1-(2,4-difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile.
 73. The compound of claim 70 wherein m is 1 or 2;

is pyridinyl; and each R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, —R⁷—OR⁸, —R⁷—CN and —R⁷—S(O)_(t)R⁸ (where t is 0 to 2).
 74. The compound of claim 73 selected from the group consisting of the following: 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-6-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-6-[1-(6-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile; and 1-(2,4-Difluoro-benzyl)-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-6-[1-(5-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile.
 75. A method of treating, preventing, or ameliorating the symptoms of a disease or disorder that is modulated or otherwise affected by nuclear receptor activity or in which nuclear receptor activity is implicated, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.
 76. The method of claim 74, wherein the disease or disorder is selected from hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipoproteinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, lipodystrophy, hyperglycemia, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, gallstone disease, acne vulgaris, acneform skin conditions, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, inflammation, immunological disorders, lipid disorders, obesity, conditions characterized by a perturbed epidermal barrier function, conditions of disturbed differentiation or excess proliferation of the epidermis or mucous membrane, and cardiovascular disorders.
 77. A method of reducing cholesterol levels in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.
 78. A method of treating, preventing, or ameliorating one or more symptoms of a disease or disorder which is affected by cholesterol, triglyceride, or bile acid levels, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.
 79. A method of modulating nuclear receptor activity, comprising contacting the nuclear receptor with a compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.
 80. The method of claim 78, wherein the nuclear receptor is an orphan nuclear receptor.
 81. The method of claim 78, wherein the nuclear receptor is liver X receptor (LXRα or LXRβ).
 82. A method of modulating cholesterol metabolism, comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.
 83. A method of treating, preventing or ameliorating one or more symptoms of hypocholesterolemia in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.
 84. A method of increasing cholesterol efflux from cells of a subject, comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.
 85. A method of increasing the expression of ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC1) in the cells of a subject, comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.
 86. An in vitro method for altering nuclear receptor activity, comprising contacting the nuclear receptor with a compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.
 87. The method of claim 76, wherein the disease or disorder is selected from hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipoproteinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, lipodystrophy, hyperglycemia, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, gallstone disease, acne vulgaris, acneform skin conditions, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, inflammation, immunological disorders, lipid disorders, obesity, conditions characterized by a perturbed epidermal barrier function, conditions of disturbed differentiation or excess proliferation of the epidermis or mucous membrane, and cardiovascular disorders.
 88. A method of reducing cholesterol levels in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of claim
 1. 89. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and a compound of claim
 1. 